A Different Kind of Magic--UNDERGOING EDIT

Here are three more chapters for my lovely, ravenous fans. Don't get used to it. The time is coming when I will actually have to use more brain cells to create new material. I had no internet access this morning for my school work so I worked hard instead on these three chapters for your viewing pleasure. I am now at the library so I guess I should post them and get my work done. Reviews are love!




Chapter 53- Cursed

“Finite Incantatem!”

Rabastan’s frozen frame thudded into the countertop, banging his nose on the edge. “Dammit!”

Minerva helped him up, Severus and Teddy casual observers in the depths of the room beyond.

The elder professor spared a cursory glance at the cracked mirror. “Why did Miss Granger hex you, Rabastan? Did you hurt her?”

He didn’t immediately answer, choosing to retrieve his wand and straighten his robes. Minerva huffed when he brushed past her and walked straight to the door.

“Rabastan Lestrange you will stop right there!”

Surprisingly, he stopped, but did not turn around.

Severus leaned on his cane, his eyes travelling between his old nemesis and Minerva. The warning glance she shot him told him plainly not to interfere. He inclined his head briefly, one hand on Teddy’s shoulder to keep the lad still.

“I don’t know what the Order is coming to when I send my Deputy Headmaster to escort a young woman to safety and find him petrified in the loo, and she looking as if a hundred ghosts had blown through her. You will explain to me what happened!”

“Not in front of the boy, and not in front of him,” he ground out, indicating Severus.

“Very well. Severus, please take Teddy into another part of the house while I speak with Rabastan.”

“As you wish. Teddy?” The pair left the room, but not before he thrust his face within a few inches of the larger man and seethed, “If you have injured Miss Granger, I will personally piss on your grave when I am through with you.”

“Oh yeah? You’re nothing but a fuckin’ squib now, aren’t ya Snape?” the other man jeered.

“That is quite enough! Leave us!”

Severus slammed the door shut and Minerva rounded on her Deputy. “Well?” she demanded.

“Forgive me.” He dropped to his knees, throwing his wand at her feet.

Professor McGonagall looked on incredulously at the wand at her feet. “What have you done?”

Ever so softly, barely able to hear his reply, came the words, “I raped her.”


--

In the main living area, Teddy Lupin danced around the room, singing a nursery rhyme.

“Sing a song of sixpence,
a pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
baked in a pie.

“When the pie was opened,
the birds began to sing.
Now, wasn't that a dainty dish
to set before the king?

“The king was in his counting house,
counting out his money.
The queen was in the parlour,
eating bread and honey.

“The maid was in the garden,
hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
and pecked off her nose!”

The child was spinning around in circles until he fell to the floor, than stood up and spun round again until he was too dizzy and fell down again.

“Stop it you infernal child! You’re making me mental! Only a dunderheaded idiot would allow an aviary specimen to peck off their nose!”

Teddy stuck out his tongue and continued his chanting and spinning.

Severus sighed heavily, putting his forehead on the head of the cane. How he wished for his wand at a time such as this. The child would most definitely be silent by this time if he were only able to cast one little spell.

The Floo came to life as Remus Lupin roared through.

“Daddy!” came the delicious squeal, followed by the pitter patter of excited feet that jumped into his father’s arms.

“Teddy my boy how is the old bat treating you?”

“Mister Snape is a grouch but he doesn’t mean it!”

Remus laughed and good naturedly ruffled his son’s hair. He set the boy down and patted his rump fondly. “Off with you! I need to talk to Severus.”

Teddy ran into the other room, pretending he was flying on a broom.

“High spirited little chap, isn’t he?” Remus observed, grinning fondly after his son.

“The boy could send the Dark Lord himself to St. Mungo’s for a holiday,” Severus dryly replied with a smirk.

Remus frowned at him. “I thought you liked my son. He said you were good to him while Lucius kept you prisoner. Said you protected him.”

“And if you let word get around, it will ruin the reputation I’ve worked so hard to maintain.”

“Quit being the smart-ass, Snape. The game is up. We all know you’re one of the good guys now.”

“Yes, and so does Lucius Malfoy.”

That stopped the other man from making anymore comments.

“Is there a reason for your visit, Lupin, other than this touching family reunion?”

“Actually, there is.” Remus grew quiet, his frown deepening. “Hermione just paid me a visit.”

A quiet hiss erupted from Professor Snape’s throat before he could stop it. “Where is she now?”

“In my quarters. Ava and Professor Flitwick are with her. She looked extremely disturbed. Told me I needed to come and speak to Minerva and Rabastan. Where are they?”

“We’re here.” Both men swiftly turned their heads as Minerva walked with Rabastan into the living area. His hands were bound with magical restraints behind his back. Minerva held both his wand and her own in her grasp, trained on her captive.

“What in Merlin’s name?” Remus began, not sure whether to assist Minerva or run and sequester Teddy from an unknown danger.

“I have placed my Deputy under arrest.”

A slow smolder emanated from the still form of Severus Snape. “What is the charge?”

Minerva looked around to make sure the child was not in the room. “He has admitted to violating Miss Granger upon their arrival.”

Lupin’s wand was out in an instant, pressed into Rabastan’s heart. “You freely admit to hurting Hermione?”

“Yes,” he mumbled.

Remus felt Moony itching to break free, the familiar heating of his blood starting to rise in temperature as anger took over at his supposed friend. “Minerva, please, just let me deal with him. Give me five minutes. Please.”

Severus had risen to his feet and limped shoved his way to the side of the werewolf, his mouth in a rictus of hatred. “I will kill you myself you wretched dog!”

The snarl in Lupin’s voice was unmistakable. “All I need is five minutes, just this once. I knew it was a mistake to trust him.”

“Professor Lupin, sheath your wand immediately! Both of you sit down!”

A very reluctant Lupin and Severus backed away, but neither very far and both ignoring the command to sit. They looked to each other as if to make an unspoken pact to take revenge if they didn’t hear something to quell their anger in the next few moments.

“Professor Lestrange claims he was hexed or cursed. The entire incident was presumably beyond his control as if enacted beyond his measure of reason. He is under arrest, but I have never had any reason to doubt his word. He will remain under arrest at the castle until I can have Harry come to corroborate his story. I need to speak with Albus and Hermione immediately. There may be something about this place Albus had forgotten to tell us. Until further notice, I want the first two bedrooms and bathroom locked and warded. I will leave that up to you Professor Lupin.”

He nodded, his interest piqued but anger still seething under the surface. “I came to let you know that Hermione is safe in my quarters with Ava and Professor Flitwick. She told me she had been attacked and to come find you.”

“Thank goodness she is safe. When you are done with the warding, bring her to my office and I will escort her back here. Severus, will you be all right with Teddy while I am gone?”

He nodded slowly.

“Good. We’ll be back in the morning. Do not, under any circumstances, go back into those first two rooms before I have a chance to speak with Albus!”

“I can hardly climb the stairs much less break a ward, or have you forgotten I am bereft?” he sneered.

She glared at him for a moment. “I have not forgotten, Severus, I am merely ensuring your safety.”

“Indeed.”


--


Rabastan was put in a rudimentary prison cell in the Room of Requirement, his hands bound magically so he could not perform wandless magic. His demeanor was stoic, trapped within himself, seemingly at odds with what he felt had been forced upon him. The invasion of his mind had been a form of rape in itself. Something had taken hold of him, made him into a violent, unfeeling creature that destroyed anything that might have been between him and Granger. Just like Lucius. When Minerva left him, he doubled over and vomited the remainder of the contents in his stomach.


--

“Albus! Why did you not tell me of this before sending an innocent girl and virile man into that cottage?”

“It was merely a hunch, my dear. I had no way of knowing her condition had progressed so far and have not had ample opportunity to spy- I mean observe her behaviors as she was sequestered at the Burrow.” His infernal twinkling was absent from his gaze as the old painted wizard seemingly paced back and forth in his limited portrait space.

Minerva cast her head back to eye the ceiling above her. “The damage is done, I’m afraid. She’ll never forgive him. Now they must continue to work together when it is paramount we not fail in our mission!”

“Rabastan is scarred too. What happened to him is just as bad as what occurred with Miss Granger. There is no way they could have controlled or avoided the outcome.”

“If we perform the counter-spell with the help of Godric and the sword, do you think it will work or take over her mind?”

“It might be a variation of the one we believe it to be. Immediately after it is performed we will know. The spirit inside of her will break free from her body and be banished to the Netherworld or will take over her mind permanently. The risks are great but I am afraid we have little choice.”

“I can’t have three vulnerable people living under one roof with that curse upon her!”

“The only way it will affect them is if we do nothing. The cottage is the safest place for them to be. I had not anticipated this sort of interaction between her and Rabastan. There must be other dark influences at work in Miss Granger’s mind for Nagini to have become manifest so quickly. Rabastan is Slytherin and very powerful. I wish you had told me of their prior intimate relations. This entire situation could have been avoided.”

Minerva twirled her wand in her fingers unconsciously, her eyes going unfocused. “There is too much on my plate to remember everything old friend.” She smiled softly at the old headmaster gazing fondly back at her. “The lives of so many are still at stake. We’ve never had the time to fully recover from the war. Parts of the castle are still damaged and warded. Lucius is in control of the Ministry and the Prophecy. I fear I am an inadequate Headmistress under the circumstances and my heart isn’t what it used to be.”

“No one is perfect my dear. There will be casualties, as with any conflict. You must sacrifice pawns to capture the king.”

Minerva pondered that point and nodded slowly.”When shall we perform the ritual?”

“As soon as possible. You will want to have Professor Fishwick assist you. I will enlighten you as to the remainder of the details. The sword of Godric is in my private vault. If you need an additional hand then I recommend Professor Vector to lend her hand in comforting Miss Granger during the procedure.”

“Even as a portrait you still run this place better than I ever could.”

Dumbledore let out a hearty chuckle as the painted twinkle winked back into his eyes. “I have had far more years to perfect the art of manipulation and observation dear heart. A few more fiasco’s like this one and Hogwarts will have its first ever portrait for an official Headmaster.”

She shook one finger at him and scowled, her brogue becoming pronounced. “I depend on you; don’t ye be taking the piss Albus Dumbledore!”

He held up his hands and pretended with little success to school his features to a stern countenance.

“You may release Professor Lestrange once the procedure is complete. He will not be a threat to Miss Granger.”

“Try convincing Remus and Severus of that.”

Albus winced in his portrait. “I trust you to take care of that my dear.”

“Easy for you to say,” she snorted.

“What do you want me to say? It was an unfortunate circumstance. Avoidable, yes but what is done is done. These things happen.”

“Yes, they do. They also have a way of painting the future in darker colors than we can ever imagine.”

A knock at the door ushered in a wan Hermione. She took a seat in silence in front of the Headmistress’ desk.

“Thank you for coming dear.”

Hermione stared straight ahead at nothing.

“I am so very sorry at what has transpired tonight. Rabastan is in a holding cell.”

Still, she did not reply.

“My dear, Albus has informed me of a curse upon you.”

Hermione jumped in her seat at that statement. “C-curse?” she asked in a shaken voice that cracked.

Minerva took her young hands in her older wizened ones. “Do you remember what you told us of your encounter with Severus in the Shrieking Shack?”

She nodded dumbly, wondering what the hell that had to do with Rabastan forcing himself on her.

“I admit to thinking nothing of the details at the time considering all of the other problems we were facing following the fall of Voldemort.” Her lips pursed with the memory. “The one memory that stuck in the mind of our dear former Headmaster Dumbledore was the manner in which you stayed the damage to Severus in the interim before St. Mungo’s stabilized him.”

Hermione was entirely confused. What had she done that was so remarkable that was connected to the present?”

Albus spoke up when he realized she was clueless. “The venom, Miss Granger; you attempted to suck some of the poison from his wound and then placed a stasis charm on his body before Apparating to St. Mungo’s. If there was any residual magic from the Dark Lord or Nagini in the area it may have reacted with the high emotion, your spell and contact with the poison. Tom Riddle’s familiar most likely had a magical tag that tied part of her soul to a physical piece of her that could be left behind such as her venom. In the event of her death the magical tag acted much like a Horcrux, only after her death that piece was transferred to the nearest part of her that had been left behind when she was alive. That would have been the venom injected into Professor Snape. Much like a parasite, she has infected your person and is now reaching out to manifest by feeding off the dark actions it compels in yourself and others.”

The serpent in Hermione gave a sharp hiss and she jumped involuntarily.

“Severus was close to death so I surmise she latched on to the nearest healthy host which happened to be you. My sincere apologies Miss Granger. It was a terrible thing you were forced to endure.”

“When does it end?” Hermione suddenly raged at no one in particular. “How long do we all have to play this game of survival? When does the pain stop? What horrors are around the corner? I am tired of seeing my friends and loved ones suffer and die!”

Great sobs wracked her body, doubled over with rage, pain, and grief. The serpent writhed and undulated in obvious glee as to her discomfort. What did it care that the others knew? They were powerless to stop the devouring of her mind, body and soul.

Minerva handed her a handkerchief, once again rocking the distraught girl. When, indeed, was it all going to end? Here the old headmistress was, relying on the rambling experience of a dead wizard and a ragtag bunch of Order members with very little knowledge of where to go. She had not the contacts Albus had been privy to except Rabastan. Everything seemed to be flying apart at the seams and she was helpless to keep it all together. On top of it all, her heart was failing her and she dared not burden others with the news. It was a genetic defect that magic could not correct, and the Healer at St. Mungo’s had been most dispassionate but discreet. Still, she had to remain strong and appear in command of her faculty.

Hermione seemed to accept the explanation for Rabastan’s actions as Minerva explained it, but it did nothing to contain her physical and psychological fear of the man who had used her body so freely. No matter that he had also been violated. It had ruined her trust in him; in anyone. She could trust no one save herself and maybe Teddy. Even Teddy’s father had turned on her at one point.

Severus had spoken horrid things to her. Rabastan had raped her. Dr. Shaw had forced himself on her. They were all liars. Men spoke sweet things to her and then dumped her like so much garbage after they took what they wanted. Respect was a joke. Love was not a reward, it was a death sentence. She hardened herself inside. From now on she resolved to do the same; take what she wanted, and feel no pity for those that had hurt her.

The snake wriggled with glee. Everything was going according to plan. One more encounter, perhaps with the Dark traitor who had lost his magic, and he would be free of this wretched body and ready to take on the other wizard who had betrayed the Dark Lord’s vision; Lucius Malfoy.