Dark Days

Dark Days – Losing my mind

Hermione woke with a start. A cold sweat was on her face and her breathing was laboured. It was cold in her room and outside a chill autumn wind was blowing the leaves off the trees in their hundreds. She had had the most horrible dreams. She took a deep breath and then looked around as if expecting to see someone there. She could smell Severus; he must have been in her room last night while she slept. But what for she could not guess, it was that same musky fragrance that she always associated with him. It made her smile and she wrapped her arms around herself thinking with pleasure of seeing him later that day. Her dreams were forgotten as she thought of him and she lay back down, pulling the covers over her and snuggling deeper into the bed.

* * * * * *

Dumbledore rose early that morning, an odd sense of foreboding seemed to follow him wherever he went, but he couldn’t quite fathom out what was wrong. He decided to get straight on with business and try to shake off the feeling that something was horribly wrong. Going down to the kitchens he procured a mug of hot chocolate and walked with it down to Severus’ room to see about the potion that he and Hermione had been working on. By all accounts it was nearly ready.

The corridors were draughty and it didn’t help when he absently walked through Nearly Headless Nick on his descent to the dungeons.

“Oh terribly sorry Sir Nicholas. Didn’t see you there, mind elsewhere I’m afraid.”

“Don’t mention it good sir it was nothing. But what brings you down here so earl in the morning?”

“On my way to see Severus actually, I couldn’t sleep and he always rises early so I thought I’d go and see about getting on with some work.”

“But Professor Snape left last night Headmaster I’m sure of it!”

Dumbledore frowned. “He didn’t mention anything, why would he go? What could he be doing? Are you sure that he did not just go down to Hogsmeade for a drink perhaps?”

“Well if he did then I certainly did not see him come back and I was near the Entrance Hall all night last night.”

“Hmm, I think I will go and see if he’s in his room anyway, would you be so good as to check Miss Granger’s room to see if he’s there.”

“But of course professor,” said Nick and at once disappeared through the ceiling.

Walking much more quickly now Dumbledore reached Severus’ room in a matter of seconds and knocked loudly on the door. “Severus?” He knocked again. “Severus are you in there?” He tried the door, it was locked. “Alohamora.” The door swopenopen and he stepped inside. The sitting room was cold and dark; he hurried across it to the bedchamber. “Severus?” Slowly he opened the door. There was no-one there and the wardrobe door hung open, there was nothing inside.

Sir Nicholas appeared through the wall just then, “There is no-one but Miss Granger in her room Professor. In fact there is no sign of Professor Snape anywhere at all.”

Dumbledore’s frown deepened. “I have a very bad feeling about this Sir Nicholas, a very bad feeling indeed. I must wake Hermione and see if she knows anything about this. Would you please ask Minerva McGonagall to come to my office as soon as she can please?”

“Certainly.”

Moments later Dumbledore was standing outside Hermione’s room knocking gently on her door.

Sluggishly Hermione dragged herself out of the door. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was only 8 O’clock. Grumbling quietly she pulled on a dressing gown and went to open the door.

“Professor Dumbledore!” she exclaimed in astonishment.

“Good morning Hermione, may I come in?”

“Of course please do. Would you like some tea?”

“Tea would be very welcome Hermione thank you.”

She busied herself in the kitchen waiting to see what had brought Dumbledore to her room quite so early in the morning, but he offered her no explanation as yet, allowing her to get on with making the tea in peace. When they were at last seated in the comfortable armchairs in her room he broached the subject.

“Have you seen Severus this morning Hermione?”

“No not since yesterday, why?”

“I was wondering where he was.”

She looked confused at this. “But…wouldn’t he be in his room?”

“That’s what I thought. I was looking for him this morning but he wasn’t there.”

“So you thought he’d be here,” said Hermione blushing a little.

“I hoped he would. Hermione, has Severus mentioned going away anywhere at all?”

“Away?” she was really confused now. “Why would he go away?”

“I don’t know, again I was hoping that you would. He’s not here Hermione.”

“Not here? What do you mean not here? Where is he?”

“I don’t knbut but he was not in his room, Sir Nicholas saw him leave last night and all his clothes are gone.”
Hermione frowned; trying desperately to think if had mentioned going somewhere. Had she missed something? Not paid attention when he was telling her? Her tea lay untouched, unnoticed on the table beside her.

“I have to go and meet Minerva now Hermione. If you remember Severus saying anything at all about going somewhere please do let me know.”

“Yes…yes of course.”

“Thank you for the tea,” he said as he left. Hermione noticed that he too had not touched a drop.

* * * * * *

Mr Weasley was sitting with his head in his hands; Molly was pacing the room, he face stained with tears. The bodies of the slain they had moved upstairs and put them on the bed they had shared.

“What are we going to do?” asked Molly.

“We need to tell Dumbledore.”

“We can’t tell him by owl, we need to see him face to face.”

“I agree.”

“Oh Arthur what about Hermione? It’ll kill her! Her parents murdered by the man she loves!”

“I wish we didn’t have to tell her. Are we sure that it was Severus though?”

“I am! Aren’t you? We’ve know him long enough, and he was stood in the light! I wish it weren’t!” Her eyes were filling with tears again and her chest was heaving with the effort not to cry.

“No, unfortunately I am sure that it was him. Come on then, we can floo to the twins shop in Hogsmeade and walk up to the school from there.”

“What about Helen and Lawrence?”

“They’ll be okay there until we get back, we should go now.”

They went reluctantly into the kitchen, grabbed a pinch of floo powder each and threw it into the fire, disappearing in a flash.

Molly stumbled at the other end nearly falling out of the fireplace.

“Mum!” exclaimed George in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s wrong?” asked Fred noticing the tear stains and wrapping his arms around his mother.

Arthur stepped out of the fire then. “Hi dad, what’s up?” asked George.

“Hello boys,” he said shortly.

Mrs Weasley was now sobbing against Fred’s shoulder. “What’s the matter with mum?” asked Fred then. “Come on dad you can’t not tell us.”

“Mr and Mrs Granger, Hermione’s parents. They were murdered last night.”

“You’re joking,” they both exclaimed at the same time.

“No, I wish I was. We were on our way home and we saw the dark mark above the house, we saw…the killer, and then we went inside and they were dead.”

“You saw the killer?” said Fred, his arm still around his mother protectively. “Who was it?”

There was a long pause, “Dad?”

“It was…It was Severus Snape.”

No-one spoke. “It can’t have been!”

“It was.”

“But…but he was…Hermione. I mean weren’t they…”

“Yes, they were.” Arthur sighed

“Does she know?”

“Not yet, we have to go up there now, tell Dumbledore. And…tell Hermione.”

“Rather you than me dad,” said George then.

“Rather anyone than me, but it had best come from me since…well, since I saw it.”

* * * * * *

Hermione had dressed in a rush after Dumbledore left and then had rushed down to Severus’ room. She barged in without even bothering to knock and ran straight through to his bed room. Dumbledore had been right there was nothing left. The wardrobe door was still open. She sat down on the and and sobbed. Only this morning she had been looking forward to seeing him and now where was he? Why had he left? Had she done something to make him leave? She curled up miserably on his bed and cried herself back to sleep.

* * * * * *

Voldemort stood on the hill top gazing down at the ruined village below him. The houses at the heart of the town still burned furiously while some on the edge were by now just smouldering. The stench of burned flesh mingled with that of burning wood and the sky was thick with smoke. No stars could be seen through the impenetrable foggy cover. Dark shadows moved all around, some herding groups of terrified muggles away, taking them to their hard labour and deaths in the concentration camps of what was once Scotland. He bent to pick up an object at his feet; it was a small rag doll, dropped by a petrified young girl with tears streaming down her face. Casually he looked down at her, ripped the doll in two and motioned the Death Eaters either side of her to move along, relishing in her fresh sobs.

A man appeared out of the air behind him then, he did not need to look around to know who it was.

“Is it d”
”

“Yes my Lord, the Granger’s are dead.”

“Excellent, a blow right at the heart of our enemy, and the daughter won’t last long when she finds out. Did anyone see you?” Voldemort hissed through his teeth.

“Yes Lord, the muggle loving fools who live there saw me as they were returning.”

“The Weasleys? Better and better. So now they know. Now they know that you are with me!” he smirked and laughed coldly. Turning he stared at the black robed man before him. “I believe there are some very fine muggle girls down there,” he indicated, “Several of my Death Eaters are enjoying them as we speak. Care to join them, Severus?”

Severus smirked back, “Indeed I shall, Mrs Granger was somewhat…dead when I enjoyed her and so therefore not really up to screaming or moving at all!” He grinned evilly and began to make his way down the hill to find these reputedly fine young ladies mentioned.

Voldemort watched him go smiling to himself. There was no warmth in that smile. “Well, another fabulous night.” He stretched luxuriously and disapparated.

* * * * * *

Mr and Mrs Weasley had made their way slowly up to the castle, flanked by Fred and George. All four were sombre and there was no conversation between them. It was not long before they were sitting in Dumbledore’s office staring blankly into space.

“Arthur, Molly,” said Dumbledore as he entered, “Whatever is the matter?”

“We have some…rather awful news Albus. But where is Hermione?”

“Hermione? Why what’s happened?”

“I really think that she should be here to hear this,” said Arthur. “It does concern her rather closely.”

“Of course,” he turned to a small house elf behind him. “I’ll get her myself. Dobby would you please bring up some tea and cakes for the Weasleys?”

Without waiting for an answer he swept out of the room leaving the Weasleys sitting in silence, and his sense of foreboding now at a peak. There was something very wrong here but what it was he couldn’t quite place his finger on.

He got to Hermione’s room to find it empty, the door open. Harry and Ron were making their way down the corridor towards him, presumably meaning to visit Hermione. Harry had only just returned from his honeymoon with Cho and was very brown from the Mediterranean sun.

“Hello Professor,” called Ron.

“Good Morning Ronald,” replied Dumbledore. “Have either of you by chance seen Hermione?”

“Hermione? No, we were just on our way to see her now. Is she not in there?”

“No she’s not, and Mr and Mrs Weasley have some news for her.”

“Mum and Dad are here?” asked Ron shocked.

“Hmmm? Oh I beg your pardon, yes Ron they’re here. You two had better come with me and find Hermione. I have a feeling that this news should be heard by us all.”

“You don’t know what this news is then?” enquired Harry as they began to walk away from Hermione’s rooms.

“No, I have not yet heard it, but I have a very bad feeling about it.”

They were making their way down to the dungeons, Harry and Dumbledore both noticed the slight tightening of Ron’s lips as he realised where they were going. He still did not approve of Hermione and Severus, especially as this trip to the dungeons seemed to imply that she had spent the night there. He clenched his fists in anger.

“Calm down,” muttered Harry to him under his breath.

They pushed open the door to Severus’ rooms and could just make out Hermione on the bed in the other room. Ron’s fists were now clenched so tightly that the knuckles had gone white. He grunted,

“I half expected this room to be decorated in severed heads and cold stone,” he murmured, evidently surprised at the comfortable dark green room.

Harry laughed as Dumbledore went into the bedroom to wake Hermione. He shook her gently and her eyes fluttered open.

“Dumbledore? What…?”

“Come with me Hermione please.”

“What? Where to? Harry, Ron? What are you doing here?”

“I have no idea,” said Ron, “Mum and Dad have something to tell you, or us or something.”

Hermione looked up fearfully. “Is it my parents?” No-one answered. “Well? Is it?”

“We don’t know yet Hermione, come let’s go and we’ll find out. They’re in my office.”

Hermione leaped of the bed and made a dash for the door, the others followed, hurrying to keep up.

“I hadn’t thought about her parents,” whispered Ron to Harry, “What if something’s happened to them?”

Harry didn’t reply but began to walk more quickly. They reached Dumbledore’s office in record time. Hermione barged in, throwing open the door so hard that it bounced off the wall.

Mr and Mrs Weasley stood up as same ame in, Fred and George seemed to be trying to make themselves as small as possible for once and didn’t move.

“What is it?” demanded Hermione.

“Hermione dear, maybe you should sit down…” suggested Mrs Weasley.

“I don’t want to sit; I want to know what’s wrong!”

Dumbledore, Harry and Ron had entered as quietly as they could behind Hermione and pushed the door closed.

“I really think you should.”

Ignoring her Hermione continued, “Is it my parents? What’s happened? Are they okay?”

“They’re dead Hermione,” said Mr Weasley simply. “They’ve been killed.”

The silence that filled the room was palpable. Hermione’s face had gone deathly pale. No-one spoke, nobody wanted to be the first to break the silence. Hermione dropped to the floor, a shocked expression covering her pale features.

“Where are they? Did they go out?”

“No. They’re at the Burrow, they never left. They were killed there.”

She looked up shocked, “But nobody knew that they were there. How could they have known? Who was it?”

“They did know Hermione, I’m so sorry,” sobbed Mrs Weasley beginning to cry again.

Harry and Ron had joined Fred and George on the seats by the window, not one of them knew what to say. They felt awkward and out of place and wished they could be anywhere but here, yet at the same time they felt that they should be here for Hermione. Mrs Weasley knelt on the floor beside Hermione and tried to give her a hug, but Hermione pushed her away and stood up, back against the wall in a defensive manner.

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND!” yelled Hermione, “How could anyone possibly have found them? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”

“Hermione, I’m sorry but there’s more, you need to hear this,” said Mr Weasley, his voice wavering. “They weren’t just killed, your mother was…she was…raped, after she died we think and your father, he was tortured. We don’t know how long for.”

Ron looked rather sick and turned away, Hermione tried to edge further away from Arthur as if distance could alter what he was saying.

“No! They didn’t…It can’t…why?” She made as if to leave but Arthur grabbed her arm.

“Hermione, that isn’t all.”

She turned back incredulously, “WHAT ELSE COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE ARTHUR? WHAT OTHER WONDERFUL NEWS HAVE YOU TO GIVE ME? YOU’VE JUST TOLD ME THAT MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN RAPED TORTURED AND KILLED, WHAT IS THERE LEFT?”

He stepped back and took a deep breath. “We saw the killer Hermione. He was just leaving as we arrived. We know who it was, but…Hermione…It was Severus.”

If Hermione had looked shocked before it was nothing to how she looked now. Her eyes had widened so much that you could almost see the whole eye, her face became still more shocked and an agony appeared there that they had never seen before.

“You’re lying,” she whispered.

“Hermione, darling, we both saw him,” said Molly.

“YOU’RE LYING!”

Dumbledore, who had stood motionlessly throughout now moved to take Hermione by the shoulders,u knu know that they are not Hermione. We are all sorry for your losses; I think you should sit down.”

“I don’t fucking want to sit down,” she spat pushing him away. “There must have been some mistake, it can’t have been Severus,” she appealed.

“Did you see him last night? This morning? Were you with him?” asked Dumbledore calmly.

“No,” she whispered.

“Then I’m afraid that there is the very real possibility that he did do it. He’s been acting strangely for days, weeks, malonglonger. Have you not noticed? Much as I want to believe that Severus didn’t do this Hermione I’m afraid that all the evidence seems to indicthatthat he did.”

“Hermione,” whispered Molly. “He was wearing the ring.”

“What ring?”

“The ring you gave to him.”

“I didn’t think anyone knew about that…”

She nodded, “I saw you give it to him.”

Hermione’s face went black; she pushed past Dumbledore and began to race down the stairs.

“Hermione!” called Harry as he and Ron started after her.

Hermione’s pace did not alter as she tore headlong down the stairs. “Hermione wait!” yelled Ron.

She did not stop and began to run towards the Entrance Hall. At last they caught up with her and grabbed her.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” asked Harry.

“To find him,” she screamed and tried to wriggle free.

“Oh really where do you plan to start looking?”

“I’ll find him!” She struggled free and ran a few hundred yards towards the door.

“And what then Hermione?” asked Ron quietly, “What about when you find him?”

“I’m going to fucking kill him!” she struggled against the restraining arms but it was now use, they were both holding her back now. “LET ME GO!”

“No Hermione. You’re not in your right mind, you need to stop,” sed sed Harry.

“Don’t fucking tell me what to do!” she stepped back from them both and made as if to turn back into the castle. After a few steps though she stopped and pulled out her wand. “Stupefy!” she screamed.

They were ready for her though and dodged out of the way. She darted through the gap between them and hurtled down the stairs.

“Stupefy!” they both yelled after her and she collapsed to the floor.

She awoke several hours later strapped down to a bed in a tiny room, her wand was no where to be seen. Her eyes flashed viciously and she started to scream curses at the top of her lungs.

Dumbledore entered almost at once and sat down in a chair in the corner.

“Let me go!” she demanded.

“I can’t do that Hermione, you’re a danger to yourself and others in this state.”

She struggled in vain against the straps that bound her down.

“You have no right to do this!”

“And you don’t know the full story yet,” he said quietly.

“What’s to know?” she asked, “He lied to me! Told me he loved me and then went and killed my parents, my only family in the world, raped my mother, apparently I wasn’t good enough for him, wanted to try the rest of the family, and I loved him, I told him more about myself than anyone else…”

“Hush child”

“Don’t fucking hush me!” she screamed and the sound echoed around the tiny room, ringing with a profound loss and agony. Dumbledore left her alone. It was some time later that the screaming died down and Harry slipped into the room. Hermione did not seem to notice.

“More bubbles Tikki….yes that’s lovely. Thank you.” She didn’t seem to have registered that Harry was there.
“Mummy!” she turned her face to the wall and seemed to be talking to someone who wasn’t there. “Mummy can I have a puppy?” her voice seemed to be very childlike, “Why not mummy?” a pause, “What’s allergies? Can I have some sweeties then?”

“Hermione…” said Harry softly.

She turned to him. “They took all the cheese you know, took it and didn’t come back. And now there’s none for the party and the mice have to go home…”

He felt hot tears prick his eyes. “Hermione, please! Can you hear me?”

She tried to sit up, straining forcefully against the straps. “Got to…got to go…places to be…need to go…let me up!” she fell back against the pillows as if exhausted. “Get off me!” she yelled then, “GET OFF GET OFF GET OFF!!!”

Harry got up then and staggered outside, tears now rolling down his cheeks. He didn’t ever want to see Hermione like that again. She had always been so strong, so together. It was awful to see her like that. Cho met him outside and wordlessly wrapped her arms around him. He held her tightly against him and sobbed into her hair.