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 8

Nervously Hermione stood at the door that connected the lab and Severus’s chambers. She still had doubts about him helping her, but she knew she needed help. Perhaps Severus could be the one person who could help her get her life back. She took a deep breath and knocked. She heard Severus yell for her to enter and she did just that.

“Good evening Hermione. Please, have a seat.” Severus greeted.

Hermione sat down in the chair that was across from Severus. There was a small table in between them. Severus called for their dinner and they began eating in silence. Severus just watched her eat. Once dinner was finished, he sent the dishes back to the kitchens, removed the table and poured them both a glass of brandy.

“Hermione, try telling me what your dream is about.” Severus said.

“Well, at first it started out with me just reliving the first rape at the hands of Malfoy, Avery and LeStrange. At first I was able to get rid of them by taking a dreamless draught. Then after what happened at the cottage they came back with vengeance. I guess coming face-to-face with Malfoy again triggered it. Whatever he did that is keeping him and me connected is keeping me from moving on.

“It is also keeping me from being with a man physically. That’s why I stopped you last night. Lucius and his little lackeys seemed to have destroyed my trust in men. That’s why I left your bed last night. I had woken up and was just kind of watching you sleep. Then you sighed and said my name. You said it in a way a lover would use. That scared the shit out of.” Hermione explained.

“And that’s why you left?” he asked.

“Yes.” she answered.

Hermione fell silent as Severus processed everything she had just told him. Severus got to his feet and began pacing. This was bad. Whatever hold Lucius had on her was not only strong magic, but dark magic as well. Finally Severus sat back down and faced the young woman in front of him.

“Hermione, is there anything else that you can tell me that would help in discovering what spell or curse Lucius placed on you that night?” Severus asked.

“Sometimes, I hear his voice. In my head. I hear him telling me I’m his and I always will be. I hear it when I dream, when I’m awake. All the time it seems.” Hermione answered.

Severus jumped up and rushed to his bookcase. He reached up and pulled a book from the top shelf. He sat down and began flipping through the book. He finally found what he was looking for.

“Lucius has cast an ancient spell that hasn’t been used in over a thousand years. The purpose of the spell is to drive the cursed insane. The reason it hasn’t worked on you is because of how strong you are mentally.” Severus explained.

“Is there a counter curse to it?” Hermione asked hopefully.

“Yes. But the only way it will work is if you first and foremost realize that you are in need of help. You can’t keep denying that you need help. You have tried to deal with this on your own for the past three or four years. Now you need to let that denial go and allow me to help you if you ever wish to be truly free.” he answered.

Hermione stood up and walked over to the roaring fire. Could she do as he asked? Could she let go of everything that she had been holding on to and let Severus help her? She was scared. Scared of getting too close to him. Scared of the feelings she was feeling toward him. But could she do this?

“All right. I can do this. I need your help Severus. Please help me.” she said brokenly as she faced him.

Severus nodded his head.

“You need to tell me everything that happened the first time you were raped. If I know the details, then it will be all the more easier for me to help you heal.” he said.

As she paced, she told him everything that was done and said to her. Severus listened quietly. His blood was boiling when she told him of what Lucius had done to her. She told him how Lucius was the first to rape her. How he punched her in the face, the ribs. How he laughed as Avery and LeStrange took their turns.

Hermione’s anger was raging when she began talking about how they gang raped her. How they each shoved their cocks in her mouth, pussy and ass. How Lucius pulled out a dagger and carved the scar into her skin. And how once finished, they left her there in that alley, bleeding and barely conscious, but not broken.

“Did you hear Lucius say the spell?” Severus asked.

“No.” Hermione answered.

“Now, I’m going to ask you a personal question and I need you to answer it honestly Hermione. When they were raping you, at any time did you enjoy what was being done?” Severus asked.

“YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” Hermione screamed.

She lunged at Severus, but he was instantly on his feet. He grabbed her arms and using his body weight he threw her on the couch and pinned her there. Hermione struggled against him and tried to get free, but to no avail.

“Stop fighting me Hermione. I know this is hard for you, but answer my question. Please.” he said.

“NO! I HATED EVERY SECOND OF IT! I WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO KILL THE THREE OF THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAD DONE! AND I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF!” she screamed at him.

Severus and Hermione’s eyes were glued to each other. Suddenly Hermione leaned up and slammed her lips against his. Severus didn’t fight it. He returned the kiss. Hermione stopped struggling, but Severus kept his body over hers. Pinning her beneath him. Slowly he released her wrists. Her hands slid up his arms and threaded themselves in his hair.

‘Severus, don’t. She’s vulnerable. You can’t take advantage of her like this.’ his mind warned him

‘Stop! What are you doing! He’s just going to hurt you! Like Lucius did!’ her mind screamed.

Severus slowly pulled his lips from hers and just looked into her eyes. He saw the slight glint of fear in her brown eyes. He knew she was scared. Scared he would hurt her. Slowly he got to his feet and helped her sit up.

“Hermione, I won’t hurt you. You have to believe that. I only want to help you. So let me help you.” he said.

“I know. I’m just scared. Like I said, I can’t let myself fully get involved with a man. Any man for that matter.” she replied.

“That’s not what your kisses told me last night or just now.” Severus said.

“What?” Hermione demanded.

“Hermione, when we kissed last night and just now, I felt a part of you wanting to give in. That’s a good sign. It means that Lucius hasn’t completely destroyed your faith in men. It gives us something to work on.” Severus answered.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you so bound and determined to help me?” she questioned.

“I’m not sure myself. You know I’m not a nice man Hermione. All I do know is that when I’m around you now, I become this different person.” he answered.

“I feel the same way. So, what’s the next step?” she asked.

Severus gave her a small smile. For over three hours they talked. A few times Severus saw first hand what she meant by her temper being short. It usually showed when they were talking about what happened at the cottage and that night in the alley. It was midnight before Severus insisted she get some sleep.

“Do you think it would help if I just let the nightmares come?” she asked.

“I think it couldn’t hurt. Sometimes it helps in the recovery process. At least that’s what Albus told me. He used the same process I’m using on you to help me when I came to him and became a spy.” he said.

“Then I’ll try it.” she said.

Hermione bid him good night and retreated into her chambers. Severus felt like they had made a small amount of progress. Hermione stripped down, climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep.

*Hermione’s Dream*

Hermione once more found herself in the alley. She was tied down with invisible bounds as LeStrange was over her raping her. Hermione never screamed. Instead of looking him in the eyes, she turned her head to the side.

“You know you're enjoying this. Aren't you, you little slut.” LeStrange hissed as he licked her cheek then slapped her.

‘Someone help me please.’ Hermione thought desperately.

“Now it’s time for us to share.” Lucius laughed.

Hermione didn’t bother to fight back. She knew it wouldn’t make a difference and that it would only make things worse for her. She was dragged to her feet. A mattress appeared and Avery laid down. She was forced on top of him.

LeStrange stood in front of her and shoved his cock in her mouth. Behind her she heard Lucius. And so the torture started all over again. She surprised herself by not screaming as Lucius slammed his dick into her ass.

‘SOMEONE HELP! SEVERUS!’ Hermione screamed mentally.

“Avada Kedavra!” a voice yelled out.

Lucius fell away from Hermione and landed with a thud on the ground. Avery and LeStrange shoved Hermione away as they tried to grab their wands. But once more the stranger yelled the killing curse, killing Avery and LeStrange.

“I’m here Hermione.” the man said as he stepped out of the shadows.

“Severus. I didn’t think you would hear me.” Hermione said.

“Whenever you need me, just call me. I’ll be there.” Severus replied.

Severus held his arms out and Hermione rushed into them. They stood there holding one another.

*End Hermione’s Dream*

For the first time in weeks, Hermione slept with a smile on her face. At the same moment Severus sat up gasping slightly. Somehow Hermione had pulled him into her nightmare. He took a deep breath, climbed out of bed and entered his sitting room.

“What am I going to do about you Hermione Granger?” he asked to the fire as he sat in his favorite chair.

T.B.C.