All I Want For Christmas

Disclaimer:: I don't own any of this, JKR has all claims to Harry Potter and it's characters, and I am unfortunately not getting paid; not that I write well enough to receive money for this story or any others I happen to write.
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Severus apparated to the usual place where the Dark Lord kept his victims. It was unusually quiet with no Death Eaters keeping watch. He walked through the dungeon-like building, looking in all rooms. Finally, deciding that they might be in the basement, Snape made his quiet way down a set of rickety stairs and saw a flickering light. He approached it with caution but kept up his stony appearance. "Snape?" came a deep, rather handsome voice.
"Malfoy. I didn't know you were out," he was almost immediately face to face with the blonde, who shrugged. "What's going on here?" He whispered.
"Mudblood's muggle parents," his voice was slightly cracked from lack of use of the past few months.
"Where's the Dark Lord?" He noticed Lucius's hand twitch over his wand.
"He's not here, Severus. This is my doing; mine and some of the Eaters."
"So the rumors are true?" Snape put on an awed look.
Lucius smirked, "they must be. Would you like to see?"
Severus felt sick for a moment before nodding," yes."
Malfoy's smirk grew as he slid open the door, "you know young Granger? These filth are her parents."
"Why, Lucius?"
The blonde frowned, "why what, Snape?"
"I don't see why we should hurt them," Severus knew he was walking on a thin line.
"Oh, Severus." He clicked his tongue, "tsk. Tsk. You underestimate me. As if I care! Do you honestly believe I would merely hurt them?"
"You're going to kill them?" He tried saying in an emotionless tone.
"Eventually. And you're going to watch. Severus, you seem ill at ease, are you okay with this?" Lucius asked, obviously not caring what the answer.
"Without the master's permission?" Lucius's eyes flashed fire. "I just don't understand this," he muttered, leaning against the stone wall.
"Maybe you should help. Let you feel it again. It has been such a long time." Lucius crossed to the other man and immediately kissed his neck. Severus pushed him away with a growl.
"I've told you before, Malfoy. You're not my type," he gave the blonde an annoyed sneer.
"Fine!" Lucius snapped his fingers and Voldemort's supposed loyal followers appeared. "Gents, hold him and follow me." They did as they were told, following Malfoy into the holding room. "Make sure he watches," Lucius hissed pointing a finger at Severus. Snape felt a wand touch his face and found he couldn't blink, his eyes immediately drying out and burning.
"You dogs! Let me loose!"
"Hold him still!" Lucius barked approaching Mrs. Granger. She was gagged with a rope which was attached to her wrists behind her back. Lucius pulled out a knife causing her to scream and choke. Lucius smirked and began running the cool blade along her skin, blood seeping slowly from the wounds, tears running down her reddened cheeks. Severus heard her sobbing, "why!"
"This has to stop," Severus said, his voice lost in the screams.
"Shut up, bitch! You want to know why? Because your mudblood daughter made my son hate me. She's ruining our lives and I'm blaming you." He finished, jabbing the knife into her thigh. Severus felt a tear run from his eye, he wasn't sure if it was from watching the scene or because of the air touching his eyes. 'Gods! Let it end!' he thought wishing he could close his eyes. Lucius had moved to the husband, holding the man against the wall as he sodomized him with the blade. Snape whimpered as Lucius continued doing this to the man.
"Stop!" He screamed and soon found the Death Eater in his face.
"I remember when you used to enjoy this. Let him go," he commanded. Watching Severus push the men off him, Lucius held out the knife, "take it." Snape shook his head, "take it!" He felt the spell wear off, and squeezed his eyes shut as he took the knife. "Take out the woman."
"No."
"What?"
"No!" Severus thrust the knife at Lucius, cutting the man's chest. He dropped the knife and attempted to let the muggles go, the man falling to the ground as the binds fell away. He felt the knife enter his lower back and screamed, dropping to his knees. Lucius approached the woman as the men once again picked up Severus. He watched as Lucius shoved the blade of the knife completely into the woman's stomach and twisted it. Pulling it out, blood began pouring freely from the wound. Snape screamed and began fighting off the Death Eaters. The mysterious men dropped him to the ground and Lucius was immediately on top of him. With the sound of pants unzipping, Snape allowed himself to look at the man on top of him. He was suddenly flipped over and felt Lucius enter him. He was gagging as Malfoy moaned loudly. It was over soon enough but the Potions master had passed out before he realized this. Lucius cleaned himself off and zipped his pants. "Drop him and the mudblood's father off at the gates to the blasted school, let that bastard Dumbledore find this mess," he said kicking the man he once called friend. Two of the biggest men picked up the men and apparated to the castle. After kicking and stabbing Snape randomly a few more times for show, the men disappeared with a small pop.
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"Is he going to be alright, Albus?" 'Minerva' he realized slowly.
"They nearly killed him." 'Albus.'
"Hermione-" escaped softly form Snape's bloody lips.
"He's awake," Minerva said, leaning over him. What was that, Severus?"
"Where am I?" He said coughing; he rolled over, spilling blood from his mouth.
"Get Pomfrey in here, now!" Albus said in a hurry, Minerva was already out the door. "Severus, stay calm. Poppy will be in here in a moment." Snape rolled to his back again and whimpered, blood poured from the bed, the sheets thoroughly soaked beneath him. "That should have been stopped," Albus hurried to apply pressure to the wound.
"Granger," Severus groaned, escaping again from consciousness.
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A sharp pain ran up Snape's spine waking him with a jerk. He groaned silently, recognizing the scent of the hospital wing. He glanced around the room and knew immediately he was alone. Coughing, he felt the bandages around his stomach and chest tighten and let out a soft whimper. "Albus," Snape whispered. He needed to speak to him. "Hermione." He couldn't bring himself to tell her, he knew he couldn't stand to see her cry again. It had been so long since he'd witnessed a raid such at this. Where had the Dark Lord been? Why was Lucius attacking a muggle family without the Lord's say. The Dark Lord would have been there if it were his plan. He never missed them. An odd torn sobbing was emitting from the man who, usually, was as stone. Tears falling down his cheeks, sweat gathering on his brow, Snape fell into an uneasy sleep.
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Feeling soft fingers squeeze his fist, Snape opened his eyes slowly, the bright sunlight making them water. He felt a rag wipe away the tears, knowing immediately it wasn't Hermione.
"Granger," Snape ground out, his voice was hoarse.
"She's here," came Dumbledore's voice. It was soft and comforting. The headmaster gestured for her to come forward. She did, sobbing; she reached a hand toward her lover and he jerked away from her a whimper on his lips. "Careful," came the soft voice again. "He’s been through quite a bit." She nodded and sat in a chair across the bed from the headmaster. "Severus? Are you able to speak?"
Snape cleared his throat painfully and began coughing. After spitting the blood into a bucket, Snape groaned, "a bit."
"Would you mind filling us in on last night's attempt." At this the Potions master began sobbing, he wasn't exactly sure why but it pained him to think of the woman. "I don't exactly remember," he muttered, straining against a pain in his stomach.
"Liar! Why were you crying!" Hermione had grabbed his arm, her nails digging into it.
"I don't know!" he cried out of pain and annoyance with himself.
"Miss Granger, please let him go.” Dumbledore’s voice was quiet but stern. Hermione did as she was told and crossed her arms against her chest. "Severus. Are you sure you don't know? Do you remember anything?"
Snape whimpered again, a sharp pain streaking behind his eyes. "I'm not sure how much is nightmare and what is real." He felt like crying. He laid back against the pillow and closed his eyes. Sleep seemed to take over him but only seconds later he jerked awake. "Hurts. My stomach hurts."
"We haven't had the chance to give you anything for pain, you have been asleep for nearly a day. Would you like something now?"
"Has nothing been mended?" He muttered.
"Some."
"Why the bandages?"
"That blade had a substance on it, causing the wound to remain open. Poppy doesn't have the antidote."
"Nigini," Snape sighed knowing of the snake's venom. "My rooms."
"Severus I will go now and get it." Snape nodded. He was left alone with Hermione.
Hermione reached out and held Snape's hand. "Severus, I...What happened? Please, I have to know."
"Miss Granger." He groaned again squeezing the young woman's hand in pain. "I told you before I'm not sure." She nodded with a frown. He tried to smile at her but a cut on his mouth easily prevented this. He lifted her hand to his lips, gracing them across her soft skin. "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I can't remember." She frowned for a moment and let out a short quiet laugh. When he raised a quizzical brow she shook her head.
"Please. No need to apologize. I should be the sorry one."
"Are you?" Severus coughed as his chest tightened, tasting blood.
Hermione sobbed quietly for a moment before answering. "Yes, I sent you away with nothing but anger in my heart. What if I had lost you?"
"You're young. You would get over it." He hated himself for getting defensive with her.
"Severus! Don't say such things!" Hermione nearly screamed. She wanted to hit him. She threw her face in her arms and screamed. "Damn it! I thought you said you'd never hurt me! I love you, Severus. What more can I say to make you understand. I love you," she said laying her head on his hand, her tears running across it.
He reached with his other hand, whimpering in pain, and ran his fingers through her hair and down her cheek. She raised her tear streaked face to his, Snape's hand holding her chin. "I love you, too." She smiled weakly and leaned over the bed to kiss him. He, holding back the whimpers in his throat, kissed her back, still holding her face.
"Severus, I think this should do it. I-" Dumbledore said walking into the room. He looked at the scene awe struck, his mouth hanging open. The kiss continued, they knew they were already in trouble so why stop a good thing. "Miss Granger. Severus! Wha- Stop this at once!" Severus had tears in his eyes and high on his cheeks. Hermione slid back into her seat, her hand tightly clinging to his, a frown firmly in place on both of them. "Explain yourselves, this instant!" The headmaster's voice was wavering.
"Headmaster, what it is-" Severus began but Hermione cut in.
"Sir, its not what it looks like."
"No, then what is it?" Dumbledore sat the small glass vial down.
Snape spoke once again," sir. Please-"
"I love him!"
"Love him! How? When?"
"Please, sir. I love her, too." He chanced a glance at his love.
The headmaster was frowning. "How did this happen? When?" He sat down heavily in a chair.
"Sir," Hermione was saying. "I don't see the problem."
"You, Miss Granger, may not; Professor Snape, however, should know better. Apparently not." Severus closed his eyes, realizing he felt ill. Severus, I would like to speak to you alone. Do you mind, Miss Granger." The professor's stomach clenched as he heard Hermione walking away. "Severus, I want you to understand the seriousness of this. I hope you haven't done anything with her...I really don't want to do anything rash, but how can I be positive this won't happen again. I'm not saying that you are definitely going to go seduce students, but how am I to know that it is just this once?"
"Sir, I don't know how it all happened. I'm sorry that I've put us in this situation, and though I truly do not wish to lose my appointment as Potions professor here at Hogwarts, I can not ensure that nothing between Miss Granger and me will happen."
"Are you truly willing to give up anything for this? For her?"
"Anything. I love her."
"Then I have no other choice than to place you on sabbatical," Dumbledore sighed.
Severus closed his eyes and let out a slow breath, "sir, please."
"Severus, you knew the consequences of your actions, you refuse to stop, I have no other choice. I have to take some kind of action."
"Where will I go?"
"You may stay here, in the school, but you will be held in quarters unknown to the student body. Miss Granger will be forbidden to enter the wing and you forbidden to leave it. A house elf will be at your disposal. I will make the arrangements to have you taken there immediately."
"Yes, sr." Dumbledore stood to leave. "Albus." The old wizard turned his blazing stare on Snape. "How long will I be out?"
"That, Severus, will be up to you."