The Punishment of Secrecy

Just like anything else you\'ll see on this site, I don\'t own the characters, the places blah blah blah. You know the drill. This story is littered with BDSM issues; spanking, whipping, domination, paddling,sadistic behaviours etc. If you don\'t like this sort of thing...TURN BACK NOW and DON\'T READ! If this is your cup of tea...continue and enjoy. The chapters will be continually longer the further into this story I get. I\'ve finished it and would just put the whole thing on one damn page, but gah! 85+ pages is too much! Enjoy, check back for updates!

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Hermione started researching Draco with a rejuvenated fire. She tried to learn anything she could about him, his family and the skeletons they tried to keep hidden. Ron and Harry were more than willing to help, now that there were no restrictions on what she would allow them to do. Ron was writing to his father’s associates in the Ministry almost constantly, digging up birth records and trying to find something in the Malfoy past that would be potentiallbarrbarrassing. So far they were coming up with nothing that would do substantial damage. Ron told her that his father knew of some other sources of information but if they couldn’t find anything there, that he knew of nowhere else to dig. Harry studied Malfoy family line that he knew of from Sirius’ side and could find nothing. They had almost given up when one night, Ron received a letter from one of his father’s friends, giving them all they needed. Hermione was beside herself with excitement when she ran down to Severus’ office clutching the letter. He hadn’t been expecting to see her when she leapt into his arms and showered him with kisses, he nearly fell over.
“Severus, I’ve got it. I’ve got it all right here. Everything we need to put Malfoy in his place is right here. Ron’s dad send this, and copies of the paperwork that pertains to him. Isn’t this exciting?” she said, kissing him passionately. He worked himself out of her arms long enough to look over the papers she had, a frown growing on his face.
“Hermione, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, this is everything he’s based his life on, everything that he knows,” he said skeptically.
“Well, it would certainly make it much easier to get him back for what he’s done,” she said, disbelieving that he was questioning it at all.
“Yes, I’m aware it would suit the purpose, but do you really want to take his life and turn it upside down? This not only affects him, but his whole family.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that, however, if you don’t wish for me to do it, n trn try to find something else,” she pouted. He read the papers again and shook his head.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do but this is not exactly what I’d expected,” he said flatly, clearly not as enthusiastic as she had been.
“Okay, Severus, I see your point. But…” she said hopefully. “You know Lucius, and how proud he is. He deserves to be set down a notch or two, almost as much if not more so, as Draco. What if…” she said, trying to read Severus’ face. “What if we were to confront them alone, instead of exposing their little skeletons for the whole world? We could just let them know that we know and leave it at that. I’m sure Lucius is not going to be pleased that Draco was involved with me but for me to know one of their deep, dirty little secrets, well…. I’d imagine that would be enough to take their inflated egos down a bit.” She sat, biting her lip and watching him for some sign of appl orl or admonishment when he knelt down to her lap and smiled.
“My love, I think that is almost perfect. If I know Lucius, he probably thought his tracks had been covered and that his secret was safe. Well, nothing is ever totally secret. When do you propose to do this?”
“I was thinking right before graduation. I’d like to walk right up to him and say it but I’m going to have to find an excuse to approach them. I’m sure Lucius is going to have his pure blood goons all nd hnd him, so I’ll have to catch them off on their own. I’ll figure it out.” She grabbed Severus by the hair and pulled his lips to hers. “I’ve never been one to condone revenge but he has pushed me to extreme measures. The things he’s done…”
“Are inexcusable,” he said, finishing her sentence. She nodded and smiled.
“I think I’m going to get back to work. You wouldn’t believe the amount of homework I’ve got,” she said as she stood.
“I think I remember my last year; I’m not that old,” Severus quipped with false severity. She embraced and kissed him one final time before leaving.
**
The morning sunlight poured into the room, bathing Hermione in its warmth. She was just about to consider spending the entire morning in bed when the door was slammed shut and she heard footsteps approach her bed. She squinted against the sunlight to see Lavender standing above her, looking down at her with a look consisting of a mixture of confusion and excitement. Hermione scrubbed the sleep out of her eyes yawnyawned, waiting for her to say something. After a few moments of feeling like she was under a microscope, her patience grew thin.
“Is there something I can help you with Lavender or are you going to stand there gawking at me all day?” she asked as she swung her feet over the side of the bed. Lavender was wringing her hands and looking around nervously.
“I just wanted to come up here talktalk to you for a minute Hermione. There are some things…well…” she trailed off, still looking around.
t tht things?” she snapped.
“Well, when I was leaving the great hall after breakfast, I over heard some things at the Slytherin table…things about you.” she said.
“Really?” Hermione said, wondering why she would be the topic of conversation at the Slytherin table.
“Yeah…”
“So what was said?” she asked, growing impatient with Lavender’s gossipy ways.
“They said…you were a sex slave for Malfoy and that you’ve also been seeing Professor Snape,” she blurted quickly, as though the words were burning her tongue. Hermione laughed, out of both nervousness and incredulity. “But it’s just gossip right?”
“Well, I almost wish it were,” she said flatly. Lavenders jaw dropped and she blushed furiously.
“So what are you saying?” she finally managed.
“What I’m saying is that I am seeing Severus and that yes, I was a bit of a puppet for Malfoy for a brief time.” She went about doing things as if this was a normal topic of conversation for her but Lavender wasn’t taking it so lightly.
“How is this possible? I mean, how is it you’ve been leading this double life and none of us knew?”
“Dumbledore told us we had to be discrete and that’s what we’ve been doing.” She was keeping her answers deliberately short; rather enjoying how uncomfortable Lavender was with the topic. “Is there a problem?”
“No…well…yes…I mean…how in the earth is this possible? I mean, aren’t there laws against things like this?” she said, flustered, unsure of what to ask.
“There are laws in place for our safety, but as soon as we are of age, we are considered adults and treated the same. Of course, they don’t like to advertise this because I’m sure it would cause quite a stir. So is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?” Hermione got up and started dressing.
“What about that dirty Malfoy business? I mean, surely you’ve not been sleeping with both of them…have you?” she asked, eager for more fuel to the gossipWellWell, it’s kind of complicated…” she started but Lavender gasped.
“So it’s true? You were sleeping with both of them!” she practically jumped out of her chair in disbelief. “Of all the people in this school…and with the two most unlikely!”
“Okay Lavender, if you’d shut up for one second, I could tell you what happened. Or is that what you want? You just want to know that it’s true so you can spread more slanderous gossip.”
“No, not at all Hermione! By all means, please explain why you’re a totally different person than the one I thought I’d been spending the last six years of my life with.” She leaned forward, impatiently waiting to hear the story of the year, possibly the story of their entire school career.
Hermione took a deep breath and told her everything that had happened. She left out bits that she didn’t think were relevant, but by the time Lavender left, an hour and a half later, she knew almost the whole story. Hermione lay back down on her bed, unsure if what she had done had been the smart thing to do, but she felt better. She’d never really had another girl to confide in and she would have preferred someone a little less flighty, but she felt better nonetheless.
As she walked down the steps towards the common room, she caught several students givinr odr odd glances and whispering behind their hands. When she heard her name for the third time, she’d had enough. She walked up to the little group of third year Gryffindor students.
“Grow up already! If you wish to discuss me then do it to my face, for the love of Merlin!” she hissed. They all stared at her, their mouths gaping.
She stormed into the common room where she found Harry, Ron and Ginny all sitting at their usual table.
“Hermione, it’s just awful,” Ginny whispered as she eyed a group of students that were staring at them. “You should hear the dreadful things that Malfoy is saying about you.”
“I’ve heard,” she said grumpily, her good mood dissolving quickly. She continued to glare at anyone who looked at her and they would quickly turn away.
“No. I know what Lavender told you. I suspected as much,” she said, blushing, “but what Malfoy is saying about you is just…it’s…repulsive. Things that I know aren’t true.”
“Such as?” Hermione snapped.
“I’d rather not discuss it now,” Ginny said, glancing at the two boys. Harry nodded in understanding and got up, pulling Ron’s arm.
“Come on Ron,” he .
“.
“Where? I want to hear what Malfoy has been saying!” he said disappointedly.
“You’re so thick,” Harry muttered. “Ginny wants to talk to Hermione alone.”
“What?” he said, looking at Ginny who was glaring at him. “OOH! Right. We’ll be seeing you in a little bit then?” When Hermione nodded, the two boys walket oft of the common room, leaving them alone. Hermione returned her attention to Ginny. She was nervously picking at a piece of paper on the table.
“So what’s that little prick been saying?” she finally asked.
Ginny glanced around the room quickly to make sure they were not being imposed upon.
“It’s so terrible Hermione. He was saying that you were sleeping with half of the Slytherin boys. I know it’s not true, but he’s got them all saying it. They’re all playing right along with him. I mean, I knew about what happened between you and Malfoy, dreadful he is, but for him to do this? This is just…heinous. I didn’t think even he would go this low.”
“Oh is that all? I mean, I expected him to do something like this,” she chuckled.
“Really? You were actually prepared for something like this?” Ginny asked in amazement.
“Yes. I mean, I had hoped that he wouldn’t of course, but I figured he would. He’s just that kind of person.”
“Well, what about what he’s saying about Snape?” Ginny said softly.
“What’s he saying about Severus?” she said, instantly defensive of the man she loved.
“Well…”
“Just say”
“”
“He’s claiming that he was forced to partake in sexual acts between you and Snape against his will.”
Hermione was speechless. She’d never even considered something like this happening. The room suddenly felt too warm and the air too thick. “Are you alright?”
Hermione shook her head. She tried to stand and found herself too dizzy to do so. She sat back down and buried her head in her hands, sobbing furiously. She was so angry that crying seemed to be the only thing she could do. Ginny patted her on the back, trying to comfort her but it was useless.
“I…have…to…go,” she sobbed, her chest heaving. “I’ve…got…to…talk…to…Severus.” Ginny nodded.
“Would you like me to take you down there?” she asked concernedly. Hermione shook her head violently, finally getting her sobs under some control.
“Thank you for talking to me Ginny, but I have to do this alone. Severus must be beside himself. Thanks again,” she mumbled and ran out of the common room.
She passed many other little clumps of students talking about her, but she ignored them all. She ran down the steps, into the dungeons, and into the dungeon that was his classroom. He wasn’t in there so she searched the office and then his chambers. He wasn’t in any of them and this concerned her more. As she was leaving the dungeons, she ran straight into Draco and a gang of his fellow Slytherins. She shot him a disgusted look and ran off with their laughter reverberating off of the walls behind. Sh. She felt fresh tears stinging her lids as she went to her transfiguration teacher’s office. Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk writing when Hermione burst in.
“Professor, I’m sorry to disturb you, but have you seen Seve…Professor Snape?” she said slightly out of breath.
“Miss Granger, perhaps you should close the door and have a seat,” she said, sitting up even straighter in her chair. Hermione did as she was told and when she sat down, she saw that McGonagall seemed to be searching for the right words.
“I thought for sure someone had already told you. I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you but I guess maybe it’s for the best that you hear it directly from one of the staff members instead of from some gossipy student.” She took a deep breath as though what she had to say was incredibly painful.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” Hermione said, panicking.
“Well, it seems Malfoy had told his father about the alleged incidents of sl abl abuse…”
“That didn’t happen Professor, I swear it! If anyone got abused, it was I, but I did it for…” she stopped, fighting off the wave of fear and dread she was feeling.
“I’m aware of what is truth and what is merely propaganda. Anyway, it seems Lucius Malfoy had some strings pulled in the Ministry and Severus has been taken into custody at Azkaban. They came to get him first thing this morning. Minister Fudge came personally and brought one of his thugs to take Severus and another one of his gofers to go around and talk to some of the other students in Slytherin House…some of the female students. They’re trying to find out if he’s done something like this before. It’s absolutely detestable how they’re treating him. Don’t be surprised if someone comes to question you.” She sat back, her heavily lined face furrowed further with worry.
“I just don’t see why he did this to us,” Hermione sobbed. She put her head in her hands and wailed for what felt like hours. When she’d contained herself again, she looked up to find McGonagall gone from her desk. She felt exhausted and she’d only been up for a little over an hour. How was she to continue knowing that Severus wasn’t waiting for her? She felt her heart break in a million little pieces at the idea that he would be stuck in that dreadful place for an indefinite amount of time. Her tears had fled, but she still felt like curling up somewhere and sobbing. A moment later, McGonagall returned followed closely by Dumbledore.
“I’m sorry, should I leave?” Hermione asked. Dumbledore motioned for her to sit and she did so. It was obvious that they’d been talking because when they were both settled into their seats, they stared at her expectantly.
“Miss Granger, I believe you’ve been working on finding some way of repaying Mr. Malfoy for his treatment of you?” he asked. She nodded. “Well dear, if you have anything, anything at all that you think would be useful, now would be the time to pull it out. We’re going on a student’s word against a teacher who has admitted to having an affair with a student. It doesn’t look good. However, the only reason there was anything done about this in the first place is because Lucius has a way of being very persuasive with the Ministry. So much so that he seems to almost own them at times,” Dumbledore added quietly, winking at Hermione. She smiled slightly. It gave her a great deal of strength knowing that she had the support of some of the staff.
“Sir, May I ask how long he’s being detained?” she asked pensively.
“The sentence hasn’t even been set forth yet, however, they thought it in the best interest of the school for him to be detained until he is required to appear in court. I don’t see how this is possible unless….”
“Unless a substantial amount of gold has exchanged hands,” Hermione spat, not trying to hide her anger any longer. She was so mixed in her emotions at this moment she felt as though she would burst.
“Well professors, I’ve got a lot to do. I think I’ll be sending an owl to Mr. Malfoy as soon as I can and hopefully we’ll all have our Potions Master back with us before long,” Hermione said determinedly. They nodded at her and she left the room. She passed more gossip and stares as she made her way back to the Gryffindor tower. When she reached the portrait hole, the Fat Lady glared at her.
“I told you you’d be caught. Now look at where the school’s potions master is! Detestable behavior such as this would never have gone on in my day…” she rambled as Hermione muttered the password and climbed through the portrait hole. Instantly she felt relieved when Harry and Ron were waiting for her. She told them what was going on and they said they’d heard at least ten different versions of what had really happened.
“What we have to do is take the information we have and use it now. There is no way in hell I’m letting him sit in there until the end of the school year. I’m going to write a letter to Lucius and tell him that I’d like to speak to him and then I’m going to write up a contract of sorts, one that says that he’s going to make a public apology to Severus because he wrongly accused him. I’m also going to tell him that I know about his dirty little secrets…all of them.”
They looked at her and nodded, afraid to do or say something to the contrary of what she’d just said. They sat down, ink and parchment before them, and began writing out letters. Hermione had to start over several times, claiming that it sounded accusatory or that it rambled. After several hours of writing and rewriting, she had her letter perfect and sent it off with Hedwig. Almost as soon as she’d sent the great snowy owl out into the beautiful Saturday afternoon, she started having regrets. She looked at her friends, her eyes begging them to tell her that she did the right thing. They just stood, stock still, as though afraid of her and didn’t say a word. She turned back to the window, watched Hedwig become a speck in the horizon, and sighed deeply. She had wanted to spend this day with Severus and instead, spent it bent over a desk in a common room with her friends. She felt like everything that had happened over the course of the year had been in vain. She’d never have let Malfoy touch her had she known he’d have done something like this. She fell into one of the chairs by the fire and started sobbing again. Harry and Ron tried to approach her, but she shooed them away.
“I’m really sorry. I’m just a wreck and I think I need to deal with this in my own. Thank you for all your help,” she said, wiping the tears from her face. Ron nodded and walked up the stairs towards the boys’ dorm but Harry lingered a little longer.
“Hermione, we’re here for you. You don’t have to bare this all yourself. I mean, why don’t the three of us go for a walk around the lake. It’s a beautiful day out there and I’d hate to see you miss it because you’re afraid to go out. You can’t spend the rest of the school year in the common room,” Harry said sympathetically. She nodded but still didn’t know if she was ready to face the rest of the school. She could deal with the gossip and quips from people about her, but she didn’t like the fact that Draco had drug Severus into it. Finally, she decided that Harry might just be right and when Ron came back down, the three of them walked down the halls and out into the sunlight. She felt better just being out of the castle for a few minutes; the clean air and sunshine clearing her head. They walked over to the lake and watched the giant squid raising his great tentacles out of the water in his travels to the far side of the lake. Hermione laid down in the cool grass and stared up at the puffy white clouds passing slowly overhead and sighed.
“Why can’t we just go back and undo all the injustices of the world?” she said to no one in particular. Harry and Ron exchanged glances before staring down at her then seating themselves on each side of her. They sat in silence for the better part of an hour before they heard voices approaching them from behind. Hermione rolled to her stomach and watched in horror as Draco and some of his Slytherin cronies approaching.
“For the love of Merlin, why don’t they just disappear?” she groaned.
“Just say the word Hermione,” Ron said, reaching for his wand. “Just tell me I can do it and I’ll make him pay for everything he’s ever done.”
“Yeah, give us the word, please, I’m begging you,” Harry added, reaching for his wand as well.
“No. Don’t do anything, you’ll only make it worse,” she said. “Besides, he’s not worth the breath it would take to utter the curse.”
“You’re no fun,” Ron pouted, releasing his wand. “I just wanted to turn him into the great white ferret again; bounce him around and maybe drop him in the middle of the lake. What’s the harm in that?” Draco walked up to them and smirked.
“Well, there’s the little mudblood and her sniveling little friends. Hermione, why the sad face? A person would think that you’d lost your lover the way you’re acting,” he said with a chuckle. His friends laughed with him, taking his cues. “So who are you going to be meeting in the dungeons now Granger? Filch? Perhaps he wants to show yow thw they used to administer punishment around here.”
“Malfoy, your voice is like nails on a blackboard. Why don’t you just leave us alone? Besides, I think you’re going to be very interested in what I have to say very soon. Now run along and find someone else to bother. Perhaps Pansy would be interested in having a round with that wee little thing you keep in your pants. What is it you called her? The Slytherin slut?” Pansy glared at her and then at Malfoy before she stompack ack towards the castle. Malfoy tried to lean down to talk to Hermione but Ron and Harry stopped him.
He shoved them both aside and grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.
“You’d better watch that cheeky tongue of yours,” he hissed in her face. “It’s could get you in a heap more trouble than you’d ever imagined. Maybe land you right in Azkaban right next you your lover.”
“And perhaps it might just get my lover out of prison and back in this school where he belongs. Don’t assume that you still have the upper hand in this situation Draco. I know things that will make your head spin and when I’m done, you’ll question your entire outlook on life,” Hermione said quietly. She smiled as he released her and she returned her attention to the giant squid again. Malfoy stood above her fuming for a few more minutes before he finally pulled his friends off towards the castle again.
“When do you think Lucius will respond?” Harry asked, resuming his spot in the grass next to her.
“Hopefully soon. Knowing him though, he’ll probably try to postpone it as long as possible, just to be a royal pain in the ass. However, I can’t wait until I tell him all that I know. It’ll be like Christmas has arrived early.”
The three of them sat in silence until almost sunset. When they had retd tod to the castle and made their way into the common room, Hedwig was waiting for them on the windowsill, a small roll of parchment in her beak. Hermione took the parchment from her beak and unrolled it quickly. Beaming, she looked up at the two of them.
“Lucius Malfoy will be here at nine next Saturday morning. He is indisposed at this time and that’s the soonest he can get away. I’m to meet him in McGonagall’s office. It seems he’s interested in what I have to say,” she said, slightly disheartened but still relieved.
The three of them spent the remainder of their Saturday making a trip to the kitchens and returning with armloads of butter beer and what looked to be enough food for the entire Gryffindor house. While no one other than them knew what was going on, the others were more than happy in helping them celebrate something that they were totally clueless about.
**