The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Here we are, another chapter... :)
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CHAPTER FIVE: A FIERCE WARNING

Severus had left the Dining Hall earlier that day with his mind filled with thoughts. Lucius had kept on provoking him, and Severus had decided the time for talking was over - Lucius wasn’t about to be convinced. Something else had to be done.

But what? Severus had wondered, he didn’t want Lucius toying with Hermione, for more than one reason. The thought of HIS hands on HER... No, it wouldn’t be happening.

Not at all enjoying the mindless blabber going on in the British Department at all hours, he’d gone out in the evening only to get some time to himself. In the dark corridor he’d spotted none other that Hermione, with her back to him. Giving her a bit of a fright was too tempting to let go, and he’d approached her like a cat, completely soundless, as he always did. She’d really jumped when she’d turned to see him.

“You shouldn’t be running about in dark corridors like this, Miss Granger,” he said as she backed a bit up against the wall.

“Professor!” she said shocked, calming a bit as she saw who it was. “You really scared me!”

“I noticed,” he commented, his look never leaving her face. Somehow, the darkness in the corridor, and her fright still slightly visuable, made him feel more confident. It brought back memories he’d prefer to forget. Memories of having such awsome power... “What were you doing?”

“I was just - on my way back,” she said, a hint of nervousness caught in her voice. “Why do you ask?”

Severus lips curled into a small grin. “There is no need to be so nervous, Miss Granger.”

“I know, I just - I’m not nervous!” she suddenly argued. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get to bed.”

Severus took a step closer to her, and she didn’t leave. “I hear you have befriended an old colleague of mine,” he said, his voice lower. “Am I right, Miss Granger?”

“You mean Lucius Malfoy?” she asked uncertainly, her back now almost touching the w “I’ “I’ve... I’ve just heard his version of the story. He’s a nice man, I think.”

“Oh, do you really?” sneered Severus. “You might have been the cleverest in your year, Miss Granger, but you are still ignorant.” Slowly, yet very noticably, he moved his right hand up and placed it on the wall next to her head. His left hand followed on the other side. She looked trapped, and Severus knew she felt it, too. She looked slightly worried, but it only brought a faint grin to Severus’s face. He was remembering. This brought back dark memories of similar occasions, and he couldn’t help but enjoy the power reaching him.

“I am NOT ignorant, and my friendship with Lucius Malfoy is none of your business,” argued Hermione, trying to be brave, but she wasn’t managing. Severus was scaring her.

“Really?” whispered Severus, coming even closer to her by the wall. His body was nearly touching hers. “Believe me, Miss Granger, whenever Lucius Malfoy befriends someone like you, his reason is always the same.” Then Severus leaned in, whispering in Hermione’s ear: “And if you don’t watch your step, you will soon enough learn for yourself what I’m talking about.”

Then he removed his arms and left, his black robes billowing around him as he went off down the corridor.

Hermione stood back, almost petrified. What had just happened? Snape had never acted this way, never before... And most definitely not to her! It had been almost like a threat, yet an aiding one. And also, there had been something else, that which terrified Hermione the most - that feeling she’d gotten when he’d been so close. His breath by her ear, his hands almost holding her captive.

She’d thought Lucius had been daring, touching her leg under the table, but that was nothing compared to this. Snape had terrified her, yet... She wasn’t angry with him, nor very afraid. Just fascinated, if that was the right word. He had made his point quite clear, that at least was for sure.

* * *

Severus couldn’t help but smirking to himself as he continued down the corridor, reaching the great steps leading down to the abandoned reception. He hadn’t really meant terrifying her to such measures, but it had been so tempting...

Hopefully, his act would show results. Severus knew all too well that Lucius wasn’t going to give up on Hermione, he was too stubborn and proud for that. So the only hope left was Hermione coming to her senses. Maybe Severus’s little performance could make that happen.

The smile on Severus’s face vanished instinctively, however, when the very same Lucius Malfoy was spotted by the entrance.

“Ah, Severus,” he smirked and approached his old friend. “What are you doing out this late?”

“I am not out,” replied Severus. “Not out of the Manor, at least. You were out, though. Where, may I ask?”

“Oh, just enjoying the evening, nothing of importance,” replied Lucius. “Why, did I miss anything?”

“Not at all,” said Severus, moving to get past Lucius and out into the warm evening, hoping for a chance to be alone in fresh air.

“And where are you headed?”

“Out,” replied Severus simply.

“You do know there’s a curfew here?” said Lucius, grinning. “They close the doors at night, so no unwelcome intruders get access during the secrecy of night.” He smiled wickedly. “It would be a shame if you had to spend the night outside, like a dog.”

“Yes,” said Severus, and left.

Lucius smirked. That man was seriously bitter, there was no doubt about it. All of his past was haunting Severus beyond imagining. It seemed as though he even felt responsible for Lucius’s actions, at least towards Hermione Granger. However, Severus wasn’t going to stop him. Not at all.

Lucius made his way back up the staircase and through the corridor leading to the British Department. Not far from the entrance door he spotted no other than Hermione, standing as though caught deep in thought.

“Hermione?” he said, approaching her. “Are you all right? You seem a bit lost,” he smiled gently.

Hermione looked up, as though waking from a dream. “Oh - hi, Lucius. Yes, I’m fine. I just... I had an encounter.”

“It must have been a special one, to have you end up in this state,” said Lucius. “With whom was it?”

“Well, it was with Professor Snape, actually,” she replied. “He said some things that made me think.”

“What did he say?” Lucius asked, with sincere interest. He hadn’t counted on Severus actually talking the girl to her senses, for all Lucius knew that could work. He didn’t know what her thoughts of Severus’s judgement was, but he suspected she at least held some amount of respect for the man.

“Oh, nothing important,” Hermione dismissed. “I just didn’t think him the type to say things like that, is all. It’s all right.”

“In that case, may I walk you back to our Department?” suggested Lucius, offering her his arm.

“Well, I guess - sure, thanks,” she said reluctantly, taking her arm in his, and they walked.

Hermione had been shocked to see Lucius appear in the corridor only few minutes after Snape had left her. Her thought of them both had changed now, she couldn’t help it. She’d never had Snape expressing any emotions of his towards her, and his warnings about Lucius felt sincere. What if he was right, what if Lucius was only after a quick shag? Hermione couldn’t bear it if that was the case.

But yet, when he’d arrived and so gently escorted her back to the Department, she felt Snape had to have been exaggerating. Lucius was kind and gentle, and he seemed to care for her well being. Snape was clearly just jealous of Lucius’s ability to maintain after all he’d been through. Merlin knew Snape himself didn’t maintain well.

The nice walk back with Lucius met a rough ending, however - because the first sight they met when they entered the British Department was Harry and Ron.

Hermione didn’t know what to do. Her arm was in Lucius Malfoy’s. SHE knew he’d probably been under the Imperius Curse, but apparently neither Harry nor Ron had believed that story. What were they to think now?

“Hermione?” said Ron in disbelief, as though he couldn’t believe it was really her standing there. “What are you doing?”

“N-nothing,” she stuttered, not knowing what to say. Did she really need to excuse herself? SHE knew the truth, didn’t she? Was there really a need for explanations?

“I think you’re going arm-in-arm with Lucius Malfoy, that’s what’s going on!” said Ron angrily.

“Now Mr Weasley,” interrupted Lucius, “there’s nothing to be upset about. Miss Granger had a slightly uncomfortable encounter with Professor Snape in the corridor, I just thought I should escort her back. No need to worry, boys,” he smiled.

Harry’s eyes caught Hermione’s. He looked both shocked and worried, clearly he’d forgotten that she was arm-in-arm with Lucius at the mention of the encounter with Snape. That had no doubt been Lucius’s intention.

“Yes,” said Hermione quickly, “thank you, Lucius. I’d better be off to bed.”

“Of course,” smiled Lucius. “Good night, all three of you.”

Hermione, Harry and Ron went through the lounge and into the rooms’ corridor. Here they stopped.

“What was that about Snape?” said Ron fiercly. “You had an ‘encounter’?”

“It’s nothing big,” said Hermione. “He just startled me.”

“How?” asked Harry suspiciously. He had reasons to believe that whenever Snape had ‘encountered’ Hermione, it would come nothing good from it. Things he had heard in his final year at Hogwarts had proven this.

“Well, I was just alone in the corridors, and he sort of sneaked up on me,” explained Hermione. “Not deliberately though, I’m sure,” she quickly added, “he was just there, suddenly. And he spoke to me, that’s all.”

“It sounded worse than that from Lucius Malfoy,” said Ron. And after a short pause, he added, “But then again, it was Lucius Malfoy.”

“Just stay clear of both of them,” said Harry to Hermione. “I don’t think either one’s any good for you.”

“Agreed,” said Ron. “And since Harry and I won’t be here to protect you...” he added with a slight grin.

“Protect me?” laughed Hermione. “Where are you going, since you won’t be here? I thought you were to stay throughout the entire conference?”

“We were,” said Harry, “but something’s come up, and Kingsley’s called out for some Aurors to meet up in London. Apparently there’s some problem up at Azkaban, they just want us there as an extra precaution.”

“I see,” said Hermione.

“We’re leaving tomorrow,” explained Ron, “along with most of the other Aurors attending this thing. It’s a shame though, I’d really preferred staying.”

“Me, too,” agreed Harry. “Oh, well. Duty, you know,” he grinned. “I’m off to bed, anyways. Enjoy the rest of your stay here, Hermione! We’ll probably meet up again some time later, won’t we?”

“Of course we will!” said Hermione, giving both him and Ron a big hug goodbye. Probably they would have already left by the time she got up the next morning, the trip to London would take several hours.

Having said goodbye, Hermione went back to her room, involuntarily letting her thoughts stray back to Lucius Malfoy’s friendly touch...

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