Saving Grace

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling does.

Note: chapter contains torture, infant torture and death, rape, and satanic rituals. I hope I do not lose any readers because of this chapter, but it is necessary. Once again, thank you to all who reviewed.

Saving Grace
Chapter four
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Hermione walked into the eating room and locked and warded the door behind her. It was still sunny and bright but she didn’t notice as she was drawn like a moth to the flame to a swirling vortex of thoughts simmering on the table. She stood over the small black cauldron and placed her hands around its edge. The silvery black thoughts swam faster and faster until they slowed and a picture revealed itself. She was looking down at Snape’s private office. He was sitting at his desk reading and marking papers.

Hermione picked up one finger and very slowly placed it into the thoughts. Immediately she was pulled in, and thrust into the cauldron. She somersaulted in mid air for a few seconds before coming to her senses again. She was standing behind Severus’ shoulders watching as he marked a paper with angry red splotches. She watched him, waiting.

She didn’t have to wait long before he jerked up and clutched his forearm. Severus stood up and walked out of the room, Hermione trailing behind him. He first went to his wardrobe and pulled out a mask and black over robes. He quickly got dressed then strode into the bathroom. Hermione was tentative to follow but he walked directly through the back wall and Hermione hurried after. She found herself in a very small, barely lit stone chamber, more like a closet than anything. Severus reached for his wand and Hermione realized that this room was probably the only place in Hogwarts that one could apperate from so that Severus could use it for this exact purpose - getting to Voldemort. Severus finally pulled his wand from his pocket and disapperated.

The world around Hermione went black in a blink and back again just as fast. She was standing just out side a ring of five people; all were wearing black robes. They stood on a dark, damp and foggy moor that seemed to fade to nothingness 20 feet away. The five stood around a five-pointed star drawn into the ground, each at a point. Voldemort, in all his skeletal, snakelike, horrifying glory stood on the top point.

Severus fell to the ground in a bow. Voldemort’s voice called clearly, “You may rise chosen one, come into the circle of power.”

Severus walked into the diagram drawn in white chalk on the ground, and stood in the middle facing Voldemort. “My son, long have you dedicated your life and loyalty to me. Many times you have pleased me. You have served well as one of my Archangels and so, in honor of your devotion, I have chosen you, if you are strong enough, to take your place as one of my Beloved.”

Severus fell to his knees again and thanked the Dark Lord reverently. His voice was as controlled and calm as ever as he said, “Thank you, my Lord”. Severus had seen many death eaters try to gain the Dark Lords favor through flattery and senseless babble but he knew that to only irritate the Lord. The saint of all evil liked his underlings humble, subservient, but intelligent.

“Remove your masks, for within the fold of my Beloved we hide nothing, all is bared.” At Voldemort’s words all the people standing around the star reached up and pulled off their alabaster masks and put them away. Hermione searched each face and was shocked at what she saw. Edgar McClaw –Deputy Minister of Magic, Aristotle Grey –Head Master of the University of Magic in London, and Kaine Pewter –Director of St. Mongo’s. Hermione was horrified that these men, men who had such power influence and respect, all were evil and paid allegiance to the Dark Lord. The one person she was not surprised to see was Lucius Malfoy, standing confidently to the right of Voldemort. Snape also removed his mask but remained standing in the middle of the group.

“However, you must prove your loyalty and ability to me my servant…and to the dark powers that we have all dedicated our lives to.” Voldemort said slowly and coldly, studying Severus’ face for fear.

Snap was too good at hiding his emotions however and showed the Dark Lord a small smile, “I am pleased to have this opportunity to show my loyalty and dedication to you, Master, and to our cause.”

Voldemort smiled thinly, “Your time has come my son. Kaine, bring forth the sacrifice. Aristotle, bring up the alter. Severus, come to me.” Hermione watched as all three sprang into motion. Kain turned and picked up a bundle of robes at his feet. As Severus moved to stand in front of Voldemort, Aristotle strode to the center of the Pentagram and withdrew his wand. He quickly conjured up a large marble alter, so unfathomably dark that it seemed to swallow light.

“Kaine, place the sacrifice on the alter and awaken the child.” At the Dark Lords words, Hermione stiffened, ‘I don’t want to see this, no, oh gods no, this was a mistake.’ Kaine walked forward, placed the bundle on the alter and flicked open the robes. Inside lay a naked baby, sleeping peacefully. A small smile played around her mouth as her tiny, chubby fists lay curled into her stomach.

Kaine pulled out his wand and held it over the babe saying gruffly “Innervate.” Suddenly the tiny girl stirred and as her tiny eyes opened she let out a wail as the cold night air hit her sensitive skin. Her cries grew louder and Hermione could only stand in horror at what was to come.

Voldemort walked forward and picked the child up holding her out for display to all the death eaters as he spoke, raising his voice above the baby’s anguished sobs. “This child, innocent and pure is untainted by the sins of this world. This innocence is what is needed to feed the dark, the power that this world needs. Oh great and almighty Gods of the Dark we offer you this sacrifice to symbolize our surrender of innocence.”

He gently placed the babe on the alter and, turning to Severus, pulled a wicked looking dagger out of his robes. Its handle was of black marble and its blade was of the finest steel –its blue face rippling with death and its point so sharp that merely touch could sever a finger. He held it out to Severus who gripped ever so gently by the blade. Hermione could still see the blood seep out of his closed fingers, though his face never winced.

Severus strode up to the alter as Voldemort resumed his place on the star. Hermione walked closer until she was standing right next to the alter. Severus stood and looked at the still crying child for a moment before leaning down and putting his forehead to the baby’s bald one. Hermione bent down and though the silent men around thought he was whispering a prayer to the Dark Gods, Hermione could hear the true words coming from his mouth.

He was whispering at fast spell, Hermione had never heard it before but it seemed to be a variation of one she knew. It sounded close to a numbing spell, but it was different and far more powerful. She watched mystified as Severus lifted a finger and placed it on the baby’s arm, his hair shielding his actions from the spectators. He very slowly applied pressure and listened for the baby’s response. She continued to cry but got no louder even as he pressed harder and harder.

Hermione realized what he had done and what he was doing. He had shut down her sensors, so that she could not feel pain but had left her mind still working so that she would cry. Severus must have been testing it by pushing her arm to see if it hurt her. Hermione was in awe of the risk he was taking to save the poor child from pain.

Severus finally stood up and held up the dagger. Hermione turned away just as he brought his arm down. She couldn’t bare to watch. The girl’s cry’s continued and Severus was chanting in an ancient form of Latin that Hermione knew was the language of the Dark. Hermione began to scream as she saw blood splatter on the ground around the alter. The babe’s cries were growing weaker as she lost more and more blood but Severus’ voice rose as he forced the words out. Finally the child’s wails ended and the baby breathed her last and Severus said one last phrase in the old dialect.

Just as Severus finished, a high ear-shattering screech rose across the moor and a black shadow swept like a wave through the circle. Hermione’s cries stopped abruptly and she began to quake with fear. She had forgotten that this was a memory and she felt trapped in a nightmare.

She turned and almost fainted at what she saw on the alter. It was a heap of flesh, no longer discernable as a human other than the tiny bones poking through the gore. Snape looked down, his eyes empty, his mouth tight.

Voldemort walked forward and took the dagger out of Severus hands. “Great Spirits of the Dark, as he has sacrificed this innocence I too, show my loyalty and pledge my servant to you.” With a few wand less words the gored remains of the girl vanished and Severus was levitated onto the alter. He wrists and ankles were tied down and all his clothing disappeared. Hermione looked away shocked, wanting nothing more than to be away.

Voldemort began the same ceremony again. Hermione began to cry again as she heard Severus make only grunts of pain at first. She could tell he was trying to hold back the cry’s desperately clawing to get out as Voldemort tore into his flesh chanting in Dark Latin. To Hermione it seemed to go on for eternity. Eventually Severus could hold his cries back no longer and he began to scream as his blood ran down the pedestal to soak into the dirt. Hermione collapsed, burying her head in her arms, trying to block out the screams of pain. Voldemort said the ending phrase and Severus let out a cry louder than ever before. Again the high screech and the dark shadow, then all was silent. Hermione was terrified to look up.

“My son, you have passed this test. You have shown your readiness to surrender your own innocence. But now you must prove your willingness to take others, to allow the dark powers to consume to do their bidding. Rise, your next task awaits. Hermione turned to see her Professors back, covered in blood as she slowly sat up with short pained gasps. Blood ran in rivers down his back from the slashes all over his skin.

He let out a small gasp of pain as he slid off the alter and stood up, his back still to her, facing Voldemort. “McClaw has offered up his daughter for your task,” Voldemort snapped his fingers and upon the alter a naked young woman appeared, chained as Severus had been, “Go my son, take her innocence and give it to the Dark, Prove your own dark side.” Hermione’s eyes locked on the girls face. She looked to be around Hermione’s own age of 17, perhaps a few years younger. She appeared to be desperately trying to remain calm but her rapid breaths and shifting eyes showed her terror.

Severus had walked to the alter and climbed onto it, flinching with every movement. Hermione looked at his eyes- they were hollow, as if he had sent his conscious mind away, to save it from the horrors he was committing. He gently laid his blood covered body over the girl’s and their eyes met for a moment –hers terrified and his full of sorrow. Hermione was the only one to hear his soft whisper “I’m sorry” as he plunged into her. She screamed in pain but he drove on.

Hermione watched in numb horror as her professor raped this young woman. The chained girl’s screams grew louder and louder under her voice reached an unearthly tone. Once again an ear-shattering screech rang across the moor and the Dark shadow swept around the alter. Her screams fell silent as Severus stopped moving and withdrew, sliding off the alter. Her whole front was smeared with his blood as her own streamed from between her thighs. Hermione looked around at McClaw. He simply stood, blank face looking at Voldemort, not even caring for the pained sobs issuing form his daughter still chained to the alter.

As Snape resumed his position in front of Voldemort the Dark Lord spoke. “Well done my son, the spirits are pleased. Isadora, I am please at your sacrifice, you have served me well tonight, I will reward you, for now I grant you leave.” With a snap of his fingers she disappeared. “Severus, my son, you have passed the tests. You have proven your loyalty to me and to the Dark Gods. Now, you must only take your rightful place among my beloved.”

Severus bowed and standing back up asked, “My Lord, who am I challenging?” Voldemort looked up, his eyes somber. He slowly turned his gage from face to face, studying them before finally settling on Aristotle Grey.

“You are to Challenge Grey my Son. If you succeed you shall strip him of his power, take it as your own, and take up his place in my fold. If you fail, you shall be thus stripped.” Severus nodded and Hermione looked over her shoulder at the elderly professor behind her. His face was white and gaunt and the hand clutching his wand was trembling.

As Aristotle walked forward and removed the alter Severus laboriously pulled on his robes again and pulled out his wand. Hermione felt a flash of pride as she saw Severus’ determined face and his steady arm even as his skin got paler from the blood he was losing.

Hermione stepped back to the perimeter of the Pentagram as the two squared off against each other. They bowed and Voldemort’s eerie voice counted off. They both raised their wands at the same time and fired curses. Grey’s aim was off but Severus’ blood boiling curse hit home. Grey began to scream but Severus’ spell has been weak and lasted only a minute. Severus had obviously hoped to have more time and was hit unawares with a Crucio. The duel raged on for what seemed like an eternity but was probably only about ten minutes. After a while both began to falter. Severus’ blood loss and pained movements were dulling his mind and Grey’s age had humbled him significantly.

During a reprieve in the duel as both lay gasping for air, their eyes locked. Hermione could see both realize at the exact same instant that both were ready for it to end. They both knew that the next spell thrown would be the last and win or lose it would end. They stood up slowly and at the same moment both wands shot up and both fired the same spell. “Petrificus Tottalus.” Snape dodged to the left just in time but Grey was too slow and he fell, like a board to the ground, unable to move - conquered. Severus got up slowly and with out a word walked towards the Fallen Aristotle Grey. He held his wand over Grey’s heart and muttered a word in Dark Latin. A dark shadow slowly rose from the petrified mans chest and was sucked into Severus wand. Grey’s eyes rolled up into his head. Severus looked down once more and said slowly and calmly “Avada Kadavra.” Grey went slack, and breathed no more.

It was at this moment that the rain began to fall. It broke like a title wave over the group. No one moved. All eyes were on Severus. He stood for a moment staring at Aristotle’s fallen body before slowly raising his head and walking over to the point on the Star that was to be his.


Voldemort’s voice rang through the pouring rain “You have passed this test Severus, take your place among my Beloved.” Hermione stood for a moment as all five men in front of her stood in somber silence.

Suddenly she was jerked around and screamed at the vice like grip someone had on her arm. She turned to see a sight she had hoped never to see. The real Snape stood staring at her, his arm clutching her arm brutally. But what scared her the most was the abject fury in his eyes. She had never seen rage this strong before and it made her quake in fear. With out a word he jerked her up and the moor around her dissolved into to darkness. But even as she did a slow somersault she could still see him staring unblinkingly at her. The second they were back in his eating room he jerked her so hard she felt as if her arm had been disconnected. He tore across the room and into his public office, flung open the door and threw her into the hall screaming, “GET THE HELL OUT.” The door slammed shut before she had even landed and Hermione jumped up, burst into tears, and ran out of the dungeon.
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Note: hope no one is traumatized, please review
- Demos