The Seven Year Sleep

Chapter Six
Danger, Danger


They Apparated back to their flat, unspeaking for a long time, but something waited in that silence. Hermione was the one who broke it.

"So you didn't really kiss her?" she blurted out, and felt the heat in her face. She couldn't help it though... her confident level was at low. She knew she couldn't really compare to that gorgeous witch, and she needed some proof, as any woman would.

Severus shook his head in the negative.

"I didn't, at least no more than you would kiss Harry in a greeting. But we had to put on a show," he explained. "At least, that's how she put it. I went along with it, because that was my instinct. But I did not feel any real feeling towards her."

Hermione still felt a bit jealous and uncomfortable, but she was a logical person. She would accept that explanation for now. "But why would you need to put on a show in the first place? Could you not just pretend to be friends?"

"I am not sure why," he said slowly. "She told me... she told me in so many words that she believed we, or at least I, were in danger." Severus saw the thunderstruck look on Hermione's face.

"How could you be in danger?"

"I don't know, but that woman I met today gave me a few hints." Severus stood up then. "I must go and see."

Worriedly, Hermione went to him, laying a tentative hand on his sleeve. "Severus, it won't be anything dangerous...?" Her voice was tinged with anxiety.

"I'm quite certain I will be safe," Severus assured her. "It's supposedly in the house anyway. I doubt I would alllow anything dangerous in my own home." He cupped the curve of her cheek for a moment, his sharp black eyes dimmed for a moment. "Perhaps it will jolt my memory."

"May I come with you?"

He hesitated, then carefully said, "I feel that it is something I must do alone."

She bit her lip.

"You don't trust me. You are hiding something, Severus."

Anger shone in her eyes, positively blazed.

Severus couldn't help but think Hermione glorious, every inch a Gryffindor lioness with her arms crossed across her soft breasts, the pure golden eyes shimmering, her mouth looking positively kissable and delicious.

"Hermione, you will stay here. Or you will go to Potter's house, just be somewhere you will be safe."

"Safe? I thought you said there wasn't any danger involved!" Hermione retorted peevishly.

"I can't explain it," he said haltingly, "but that woman was not a liar. I am a skilled Legilimens, Hermione, I am sure you recall."

"The best," she snapped, "but I am not going to allow you to do this."

"You will," he said softly, "because you love me."

"I hate you Severus Snape," she whispered, without conviction. "I hate you for doing this to me. For not trusting me."

"It is not you I don't trust." And it was the truth.

He had gotten a sense of dread from the words the mystery woman had told him. In truth, he feared to learn what it was that lay hidden in the office of this house. Whatever it was, it waited for Severus with all the patience and surety of death.

Hermione looked a bit defeated. "Fine," she said. "But I don't understand why that woman knew your secret and you never told me." Her face spasmed as pain slashed through it.

"That is what I am going to find out." There was nothing else he could say or do but kiss her on the forehead, the pressure gentle but firm. "Go to Potter. I am he and Miss. Weasley are desperately searching for you." His eyes flashed. "And be vigilant. Keep your wand at the ready."

She nodded uncertainly. "I'd rather go with you..."

"No, Hermione." He looked pointedly towards the fireplace. She sighed, walked over to it, grabbed a handful of emerald green dust from the crystal vase on top of the mantel, threw it into the roaring flames, and disappeared.

When she was gone, Severus Snape swallowed. It was time.


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There were so many things swirling in her mind, but mostly there was just pain.

She could not even describe it.

When Hermione stepped out of Harry's fireplace, she stumbled and fell on her knees.

Distantly, she felt the sting and knew she had scraped her knees on the rough stone in front of the fireplace, but it felt as though Hermione and her body were two separate entities.

She did not get up. She fell on her side, curled her body into a protective ball to keep the emotions tightly restrained.

It wasn't that Hermione distrusted Severus. It wasn't that at all.


Though she wasn't as talented at reading minds as her husband, Hermione knew him as well as anyone possibly could. Or at least, she thought she did.

She knew in her heart that at least tonight, he had not lied to her about that woman. If he said he hadn't been flirting, he hadn't been.

But what had been the secret Severus had withheld from her? She knew now it was that which had made Severus distant from her. Perhaps it hadn't been a woman who had driven the stake between them, but still it hurt... apparently Severus had TRUSTED that beautiful witch whatever knowledge he had kept from Hermione. In a way that was just as painful than cheating might have been.


Come on Hermione, she told herself sternly, get a grip. There had to be a reason besides the fact that Severus couldn't trust her.

At least, that's what she had to keep telling herself.


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He was in the office. His place of rest,

He had opened the door with a steady hand, stepped in with his heart pounding drumlike against his chest, anticipating what was to come.

But now that Severus was here, he could not think of what to do. It seemed futile to him to go around searching for whatever it was that held his memories. If it had been him, he was sure he would make it difficult for anyone to access his private information.

Humiliation swirled within him and he turned to stare at his reflection in the mirror.

How could he have been so stupid as to forget that vital part?

"Damn it," Severus muttered, pounding his hand against the silvery glass.

Then he recoiled in shock. The mirror wasn't glass after all. When Severus had touched it, the glass had felt like.. liquid?

"Recognizing voice patterns and finger prints... Welcome back, Severus Snape," the false mirror spoke in a female computerized voice.

And behind the magic mirror, among other things, there was a Penseive.

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"It will be done tonight," the voice said, coldly seductive, with a purring caress to it.

"Yes, my Lady," the gathered group sank to their knees, their eyes lowered as to not offend Her.

"We have waited so long for this," She said, her blue eyes wondrous. Her fingers beckoned, as She murmured, "Come to me, my pet." Apparently, Her pet must have known exactly who he was, for a silken haired man sidled up to her, his eyes looking at her with deep adoration. She smiled indulgently at the man, who had curled around her feet. She twined her slender fingers through the man's hair, stroked her long black nails across his smooth face.

"My Lady, may I speak?" a witch spoke, tremblingly.

"Yes, Natalya," The Lady said generously, crossing her legs and sighing slowly as her pet licked the white curve of her neck.

"Are you absolutely certain that he will do it tonight?"

"Crucio," The Lady said lazily, her blue eyes half closing sensuously.

The witch screamed tormentingly as the hex ravaged her body mercilessly for a good two minutes. Then, the Lady relented. "How dare you question my knowledge?" she whispered. "I think you will know to hold your tongue next time, won't you dearest Tally?" She twirled her wand between her dextrous fingers, and smiled dangerously at the heaving witch on the floor, who got to her shaky knees before her Mistress and repeatedly asked for Her forgiveness. The Lady ignored her, and merely waved a hand to signify that the matter was over with.

"Now, have the rest of you been harboring any doubts?" She questioned, the same crooked smile on her face. The members shook their heads, some protesting loudly at the thought of ever questioning their Lady's mind. "Good."

"Besides, how can you doubt it? After all," She said, "many of us were there ourselves."

"Aurore, Shawn, Chrisholm, and McKenna... you should be able to handle the witch. Bring her here. As for the wizard... well, I think we'll let him find his way himself, won't we?"

She laughed then, a laugh of pure madness that she hid with the sleeve of her beautiful crimson robes.


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Ariana: I'm really really really sorry for the delay.. it would seem that my imagination took a break! I'll try to upload another chapter tomorrow at the latest, in an attempt to atone for my sins. I love all of you reviewers, and non-reviewers! Thank you for reading, and being patient with me lol
Oh and sorry for the cliffhanger, if you don't like those. I'll just say everything will explain itself soon... I hope =D
Special thanks to nastygrl who keeps prodding me and helping me out with those sticky situations!