Memories of Deception

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Hermione used the bathroom quickly before going to the bedroom and sitting on the bed to brush her hair out. She felt disheartened at the lack of notice she had got from Snape. He had only seemed to get more irritated with her before. She was surprised not to have been punished that evening. I don't understand him.

She realised all of a sudden that she'd been sitting there for a while running her brush through already detangled hair. With a sigh she stood up, laying it down on the bedside table and crossing the room to the chair. She grabbed the hem of her dress, drawing it up and over her head.

Her hands were still tangled in the sleeves when two arms slid around her waist from behind, making her jump. She quickly relaxed into his embrace, letting him pull her naked body against his chest as he tugged the dress away from her, dropping it on the floor. She leaned back on him, her heart pounding as she wondered what he wanted with her.

For a few moments they stood in silence, before he suddenly whirled her around and slammed her up against the wall. Before she was steady on her feet again he was delving into her mind.

A few minutes later he was pulling out again and she sagged against him in exhaustion. He had pulled apart everything she had done that day, examined every emotion and thought. Do you believe me now? I didn't mean to hit you. His hands dropped away from her.

She looked up anxiously to see him gazing at her with a hardened expression, although his eyes had a strange gravity to them which made her unable to look away again. She licked her lips nervously, wondering what he made of everything he had just seen.

"Tell me, girl. What was it you were worrying about all day?"

She frowned, confused. He just saw everything in my head. Why's he asking me? "Uh, I… was thinking that maybe you… you didn't want me anymore," she said quietly, finally able to look away. "And I wanted to show you I could be good and please you." She was beginning to choke up, the tears running down her cheeks.

"You don't want your reading privileges taken away, is that it?

"No! That's not the reason." You know it's not.

"Then why?"

"I… want to… to be yours. I don't like it when you're angry with me." She clutched his robes tightly in her fingers, now sobbing as her head fell forward onto his chest. "Please don't be angry with me, she whimpered through her tears. "I'll do anything… just don't send me away." She struggled to get the words out in between deep, shuddering breaths.

Snape was silent for a few moments, his hands still at his sides, offering her no measure of comfort. Oh Gods, he's going to send me away. Slowly he took a step back, untangling her fingers from his clothes and holding her wrists.

"If you truly wish to pl…" Snape trailed off, his left hand tightening around her waist, making her gasp in pain. He let go of her quickly, turning away. "We are being summoned. Put your dress back on. Hurry!"

She gaped up at him as her stomach plummeted. Oh no, not now. Voldemort will see how angry he is with me. He'll punish me or give me to someone else."

"Dress on, quick, or you go as you are,"

Snape stepped away from her, giving her a moment to pick her dress up off the floor and pull it on, before turning to face him. He was watching her impatiently, and when he saw she was ready he held out his arm for her to take.

She scurried across to him, grabbing his arm tightly and taking a deep breath, trying to steel her nerves. She was surprised when they didn't immediately disappear and looked up at him questioningly. He put his other hand over hers where she held on to his arm, and she knew he could feel her shaking.

"You are scared?"

"Yes," she nodded. What sort of idiot wouldn't be?

"You are worried I will tell the Dark Lord I no longer want you?" She nodded again. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Do you still wish to do anything that I ask?"

"Yes, anything."

"Then prove it. Promise me… Promise to obey me completely, and I will…protect you. You will be mine, and I always take care of what is mine. But you must never hesitate... whatever I ask of you, you must do." The pad of his thumb stroked gently across the edge of her bottom lip, making her shiver pleasantly.

"I will. I promise."

"You must say it." The look on his face was intense as he held her gaze with blazing eyes.

"I… I promise, I will do everything you ask, and I will never disobey you." She felt her whole body tingle as Snape's hand left her chin and ran lightly down her neck as his other arm came around her, pulling her to him.

"Well done, pet." His mouth quirked up in a wry smile that made him look rather smug.

A wave of warmth flowed through her. He'd not called her 'pet' all day, and she was surprised to find that she'd missed it. She smiled tremulously up at him.

"Wipe your face. We must go."

Before the words had even registered she found herself using her short sleeves of her dress to clear up the salty tracks on her cheeks. When she was finished she grabbed the proffered arm firmly, remembering again where they were about to go. Her stomach tightened in fear.

Snape pulled her closer towards him, preparing to leave. In the moment before the apparated they looked into each other's faces, and Hermione saw an icy mask descend over him, even the expression in his eyes fading into cool indifference. Then then was a tug behind her navel and everything disappeared.