Our Paths Cross Again

Author’s Note: Hermione is going to be a bit dark. This doesn’t follow with OTP or HBP. Sirius Black is alive and in my story Severus is a pure blood. Just so you know.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything you recognize. So please don’t sue.

Summery: It’s been six years since Hermione left Hogwarts. She’s been doing a secret mission for the Order. Suddenly she and Severus are thrown together. Will they be able to work together or will they end up killing each other? R/R

Our Paths Cross Again

Chapter 6

Severus burst into his bed room and gently laid Hermione down. He quickly removed the top she was wearing. What he saw horrified him. Her scar looked redder and was bleeding. He quickly grabbed his potions field kit and opened it. He quickly found what he was looking for. He opened the potion bottle, grabbed a clean cloth, poured the potion onto the cloth and gently began applying it to the scar.

“SSSSS!” Hermione hissed.

“Lay still. I can’t clean this if you are moving around.” Severus said.

Hermione laid on her stomach and let Severus apply the potion. A few minutes later he was finished. She then noticed him removing his wand. She heard him mutter an incantation and run his wand over her back.

Severus saw what he needed. Not only Lucius scared her, but he had placed a curse on it that if her full body weight was ever pressed directly on it, it would begin bleeding. For some unknown reason, Severus’s blood was boiling.

“Hermione, did you know there was a curse placed on your scar?” he asked.

“No.” she answered wearily.

“If you wish, I can remove it.” he offered.

Hermione only nodded. Severus knew the counter curse, having used it himself several times. He quickly said it and watched as the scar lightened in color. It was still red, but not near as red as it was when he first saw it.

“What kind of curse was it?” she asked.

“If your full body weight or more was pressed directly on the whole scar, it would begin bleeding.” he answered.

She simply sighed. A few moments later she sat up and put back on her shirt. She refused to face Severus. She hated that he had seen her so venerable. Severus sat beside her but remained silent.

“I guess you know what happened?” Hermione asked.

“I know what Lucius told me. He said that he, LeStrange and Avery had caught a muggle born witch by surprised. He said they raped and beat her.” Severus replied.

“That’s right. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to be cuddled and treated like I was made of glass. I didn’t even notice the scar until the next day.” Hermione said.

“I wonder why Poppy didn’t say anything when you brought in. Surely it must have been bleeding then.” Severus said.

“She probably didn’t think anything about it. Thanks for helping.” Hermione responded as she got to her feet.

“Wait.” Severus said.

Hermione stopped at the door but did not face him. Severus got up and walked over to her. He turned her toward him and lifted her face toward his.

“Let me take care of your face. You don’t want Albus poking around do you?” Severus asked.

Hermione didn’t know why she did it, but she nodded. Severus led her into his bathroom. She sat on the edge of the tub, while Severus gathered the appropriate potions. Ten minutes later her face was as good as new. She then returned the favor for him.

“Thank you.” he said as she finished with him.

“You’re welcome.” she replied.

Their eyes locked. Severus stepped closer and cupped her face in his hand. He pulled her face to his and pressed his lips against hers. A few seconds later he felt Hermione respond to the kiss. Severus gathered her into his arms. Hermione’s arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers threading in his hair.

They came apart gasping for air five minutes later. Both staring into each other’s eyes. Neither knowing what was going on. Without words Severus led her back into the bed room and sat them both down on the bed. He quickly captured her lips with his once more.

“Mmm.” Hermione moaned.

Severus began kissing down her throat. Enjoying the small purring sounds she made. Severus gently eased Hermione down onto his bed. His right hand moved up and began massaging her breast through her shirt while his left began massaging her pussy and clit through her pants.

“Severus…ohhh…stop.” Hermione sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Severus asked.

“We can’t do this. I can’t do this.” Hermione answered.

“Why not?” he questioned.

“I just can’t. Severus there’s more to this than you know.” she answered.

Severus sat up and helped her sit up as well. Hermione sighed and got to her feet. He watched as she began pacing like a caged animal. He waited. This was her story and she would tell him when she was ready.

“Not only did the fucker scar me physically, but mentally as well.” she said.

“Your nightmares?” he questioned.

“That’s right. They are so real. It’s like I’m reliving that night all over again. Then you add in what happened at the cottage and there you go. It’s almost as if I’m chained to him some invisible tether. It keeps me from getting over this completely. That’s why I’m such a bitch. I can’t let him beat me and I won’t.” Hermione explained as she paced.

Severus now understood what Lucius meant when he had said Hermione was his and always would be.

“Hermione, the night Lucius told me, he said that you were his and always would be. The thing is, he doesn’t know it was you. You had a glamour on and he couldn’t remove it.” Severus said.

“No shit! All I want is to put this behind me but because of that mother fucker I can’t!” Hermione yelled.

Severus saw the rage. It was frightening to him. The spark that she had as a student was gone. All that remained of the spirited, annoying know-it-all, was her brains. Nothing more. She was a shell of her former self and that frightened him.

“I’ll help you. If you want me too. I have a book. Bear in mind the spells are very old and very dark magic. I can’t guarantee it will work, but it’s worth a shot.” Severus said as he stood up and walked to her.

“I’m willing to try anything t move on with my life.” Hermione replied.

Severus couldn’t understand why, but he took her into his arms and held her. He felt Hermione stiffen in his arms. Slowly she relaxed and began to hug him back.

“Stay with me tonight. In my bed.” he whispered.

“All right.” she answered.

Severus released her so she could go change. She returned ten minutes later. Together they climbed into his King-size four poster bed. Again he gathered her into his arms. She immediately fell asleep. Severus laid their gently stroking her hair.

‘What the hell is wrong with me? What are all these feelings I’m feeling? I’m not a nice man, so why am I being so…nice to Hermione? And since when are we just Hermione and Severus to each other?’ he thought.

Finally he too drifted off to sleep, holding Hermione close and tight against him. Almost as if she had always belonged there at his side and in his bed.

T.B.C