Vows

This story takes place in the 1700s. It’s dangerous for witches and wizards to live in the muggle world, most are executed whether they have done something wrong or not.

Warning: there is abuse by clergymen.... sadism.


Chapter 1 Veil


Hermione packed her veil neatly on top of her white dress along with the rest of her clothes. She looked around the room and saw she had everything and closed her simple cloth bag.

She walked down the grey stone stairs for the last time dressed in all white. Her descent was tempered by her memories of her first day in the convent......

~ ~ ~ ~

She was quietly crying. The nuns were fluttering around the room trying to find something that would comfort the despondent child. She went out in to the garden to get some air and look at the flowers mulling over her new life her parents chose for her. Hermione was ten years old when she became an oblate… a future nun.


A man in all black sat next to her,
" Scary being in a new place, isn't it?" He asked her.
She looked at him. Brown hair blue eyes a thin sparse beard and moustache. His face was marred by a long scar that ran across his face but he had a warm smile.
"I'm Father Remus Lupin..." he said, and then he whispered,
“Some call me Papa Loopy .... well the Spanish children who live near by do" he laughed," they think I'm loopy." He said this while making a circle around his ear. Perhaps, intimating that he agreed with the children’s assessment of his sanity.

His humor made her laugh and feel better.
He lived in the rectory next door and recited the masses everyday.
They became great friends very quickly. Friendship somehow did not fully define their relationship. It was better defined as a relationship between kindred spirits.
She would try to spend as much time with him as possible after doing her chores and prayers. And he would do the same. Everyone knew they were great friends.

He told his own versions of the stories of the Bible. He made them more romantic and exciting. Instead of the moralistic tales the Sisters told her, Father Lupin’s stories were fairy tales filled with daring rescues, evil princes, and epic tales. Father Lupin taught Hermione about nature. He taught her how to grow a garden, heal with herbs and to see the magic and miracles in little things. He pointed out a tiny humming birds nest and polliwogs in the stream. He even made her a Cross to hang on her bedroom wall.


Father Lupin heard Hermione confession of she didn’t know how to love Jesus. The priest simply gave her a suggestion of ‘ think of someone very dear to you and who would do anything for you like you mom or dad and think how much you love them. Think of Christ in the same way that you think of your parents’. He blushed when she admitted he was her savior.

One day Hermione came crying to Lupin. She told him that she thought she was dying because she was slowly bleeding to death.

He bit back a sigh and enlightened Hermione about her monthly friend. The older bitter nuns counteracted this kindness and told Hermione that she was a sinner and that this was her curse, her punishment.

They called each other by their first name when they were alone on their long walks.
He was there when she became a novice and the nuns cut off her hair.
The priest helped comfort her when they gave her the new name Jane, after the King's daughter who was deformed. She was forced to marry and was then was sent away by her husband. Jane, in her desperation, became a nun.

The years went by and one day Bishop Snape, who was from Saint Thomas Church a few towns away, decided to have his retreat or his vacation at the quaint convent. That's when everything seemed to change or go wrong.

Hermione was out in the yard taking the dry laundry off the line when one of old nuns slipped in the stream near by. Hermione helped the old nun into the kitchen so the Mother Superior could tend to her cut. Hermione got wet in the process and took off her scapular and was only wearing her tunic.
When she heard thunder and saw the rain came down fast.
Hermione pulled all the laundry off the line and ran in to the laundry room. There she discovered Father Lupin standing there half naked and washing himself. He had slipped in a muddier section of the same stream and became imbued with mud and silt.

Just then, Bishop Snape saw the priest and the novice in the same room the man half dress and the novice looking at him not fully dressed herself. She was wet and her clothes were stuck to her young womanly form. To make matters worse, she felt a cool breeze making her nipple erect.

Father Lupin laughed at the embarrassing situation until he saw the Bishop.

The Bishop yelled at Hermione to go to her room until call for.

Hermione did as she was told and an hour later she was brought to the Bishop's office. Mother Superior and Father Lupin were also there.

The Bishop said she was a woman, an instrument of evil and needed to be punished and cleansed.

The bishop ripped off the back of her blouse and told her to hold on to the table.
He whipped her with a thick switch, for what seem like forever. Hermione closed her eyes and prayed. Each stroke hurt like a thousand bee stings that got hotter with each lash. She bled some but was mostly bruised and swollen. She fell to the floor when he finally ceased whipping her.

Tears were running down her face. Hermione looked up to see Father Lupin who had fallen on his knees his hands covering his face crying softly,
" But she is innocent. She is innocent."

The Nuns helped Hermione to her room and dressed her wounds.
Hermione could not move for two days she was so bruised.
Reverend Mother thought the visiting Bishop was too severe with the novice.

The Bishop replied as he looked at Hermione laying in bed,
"She is woman and shows the typical weakness of her sex. She was leading Father Lupin down an evil and errant path."

When Hermione was able to get up and walk around she went to the garden. Remus sat next to her on the bench once more.

"Hermione we must talk. Walk with me please. I don't have a lot of time."
They walked next to the stream.
Remus began," Hermione, with all my heart, I'm sorry for the beating you had to endure because of me. But I must warn you do not get on the Bishop's bad side again. In fact, try your hardest to be invisible to him."

Remus looked around them as though some wood sprite or spirit was spying on them and listening to their conversation. Remus stopped, paused and whispered,
"He has a strange appetite for young nuns. Don't be alone with him."

Remus put his hand on Hermione's cheek,
" You are a sweet angel, my bright and beautiful girl," and he wrapped his arms about her and hugged her gently.

When the embrace ended she looked up at him, he looked sad. The Priest cupped the novice's face gently in his hands,
"You are the sister and daughter I never had. I love you more than I should," he lean down and kissed her on the forehead.

Remus had to go back to the church quickly to perform the Mass.
The other Nuns helped Hermione do her chores.
At dinner Hermione learnt that Father Lupin was leaving for France for a new position at a new Church.

Hermione ran to the door to leading to the rectory where she literally ran into the Bishop. Hermione fell backwards in fear. He gave her the news that Father Lupin was already gone. He had left on a ship a short while ago. She wept having not been able to say goodbye.

The Bishop left that night too. But he came back six months later.
Father Lupin’s ship never made it to it port. It was reported to have mysteriously sunk in to the sea.

Bishop Snape told Mother Superior that he was going to take Hermione under his wing to tutor her in the difference between good and evil, right and wrong. His purpose, according to the Bishop, was to get her on the right path to God and to enlighten her as to why she was offered this life by her parents even though she was not gifted by God with divine visions or prophecies.

The Bishop would test her on the Bible, Scripture, the Saints and her prayers.

Any time she got one wrong she'd get a smack with a stick on the hand or had to kneel on the sticks. Soon, it was the back of the legs that got hit.

He would wait to punish her before bed. He would go to her room just before prayers. Hermione would be dressed in her night gown. He would pull down her night gown in the back and bring a switch with him and whip her. Hermione turned her head to see him panting and rubbing his groin against his pants, which was soiled with his excitement.
Bishop Snape would yell,
" Pain and bleeding cleanse the mind, body and soul of impure thoughts. I can sense your thoughts. Just remember I know what you’re thinking and I can see what you do all the time."

Then one night he came into her room and knelt down next to her as she said her prayers. She was frightened because she had answered all of his question correctly that day. His arm reached across her back and to her shoulder.
He moved behind her his arms over her shadowing her. He whispered in her ear in a gentle tone,
“You are not saying your prayers right." He untwined her fingers and made them got go palm-to-palm finger to fingers flat handed.

He pressed his chest against her pulling her against him,
"Back straight."
His hands were on her hips lining them up with his. His nose was in her hair and neck breath in the deeply.
If she pulled away, she'd be punished. But this was punishment a more foul variety. The feeling of him on her body was disgusting and it made her feel tainted.
She stared at the cross on the wall. It was the one Remus made for her.
'Oh God, help me please!' she screamed in her mind.
'Get this beast off of me. I am one of your lambs why are you letting this monster get me.' She felt his hot lips pressing on her bare neck and collarbone, kissing her.

There was a book in her hands the next minute and she faintly heard him say
"Read it," pointing at the page. The letters seemed to run into each other she couldn't see straight. His hands returned to her hips and down to her thighs, tugging at her night-gown.

“I can't read it sir. My eyes… I can't see straight." Hermione said panicking.

He tugged harder at her night-gown.
Hermione put up her hand as if to slap it in protest in fear and hissed, "No! Get away from me, “and the Bishop flew across the room and landed on his back.

The Bishop got up, stunned and then a look of satisfaction come on his face and in an angry voice said,
“Did you know that pain and suffering can bring on a spiritual experience?"

He stepped back and picked up her belt that was on her chair,
“This will mark you well.”
Hermione braced her self against her bed. She felt the first four blows of the belt burnt her flesh before she fainted from the pain.

She dreamt or had a vision that Remus came to her and said,
"I'm here to tell you, you must go to the Abbey to take you final vows as soon as possible. You'll be safe once you’re on the ship. Tell Reverend Mother you are ready."

Hermione woke up in her bed. Her nightgown stained with blood all the way down her nightgown and her body still ached from the abuse it had endured.
Hermione slumped to the bedroom doorway and down hall to the Mother Superior room.
She fell against the heavy wood door and landed in a heap. The door open and Mother Superior gasped in shock," Dear God."

Hermione whispered to the to old nun,
" I saw Father Lupin. He was standing in from of me. He said I was ready and to the Abbey and take my vows."

The nun dressed her wounds and sent word to the Abbey that Hermione was ready to take her final vows to become a nun.

Hermione did her chores, scrubbing the floors, doing laundry learning to heal wounds, cook and mend clothes. She was to do that first at the Abbey as every nun did.

She went to every Mass she could to feel enlightened. She also went to Mass to prevent the Bishop from abusing her solitude again.

She stayed many nights in the nun’s chapel since it was wintertime now and it was hard to get to the church. Yes, she was hiding but it made her look good to the other nuns praying so much.
It was a month before Hermione got the reply of:
Welcome little sister Hermione to your new home and family.
We will be waiting for you at the port with your new life path your new name and new hope to serve.
Nestled in the envelope was a ship ticket. The ship would depart in two days and it was two very long days for Hermione who was still dodging Bishop Snape.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione was walking down the grey stone stairs with her bag, Bible and rosary beads. The nuns were all lined up to say good bye to her with hugs, kisses and flowers.
Hermione knelt before Mother Superior,
"Go with God, my child and do his work with a smile."
"Thank you Mother I will." Hermione said smiling.

Bishop Snape was stand next to Mother Superior. He placed his hand on her head and said, “God has twice blessed you my dear. Going to the Abbey and taking you vows is one." He handed her a letter. His finger brushed hers and she winced at his caress, "and here is another blessing for you."

He put his hand out for her to kiss his gold ruby ring. The stone felt cold on her lips. Hermione could smell his scent as well as the acrid smell of his seed on his hands.
"Thank you your eminence."

She went out the heavy wooden doors and down the path where a wagon was waiting her.

The traveling was slow because it had just snowed. Thankfully, she was at the docks early and in line to board the ship. The dock master looked at her ticket and said her ship was late because of the storm but she could take this one if she wanted.

Some were complaining saying there were too many of ‘those kind of people’ on board and that it would be unheard of and unbearable to be seen with them and that they would wait for the next ship.

Hermione turned around and saw the upper crust of society looking down at the regular people. She also saw one of her own, a priest, dressed in beautiful robes, looking down at the common folk thinking himself superior.
Hermione felt herself turn red with anger and embarrassment at the so-called holy man.
How could he look down on these people? These are the people he was to save and enlighten. Yet he didn't want to be near them.

Hermione got on board and soon they were off.
It was late afternoon when she heard someone say there was a ghost ship in the distance. The wind had died down and it seemed the ship had stopped.

Hermione looked as a grey ship glided on the sea without making any noises sailed up next to them.

Six men jumped from the ship, all masked and hooded.
People started to scream and shout. The woman next to Hermione scream with fright and the young child with her started to cry.

One of the hooded men pulled out a sword and said to the woman,
"Silence the child or I will silence it for you."
Hermione jumped up in front of the woman and child,
“Don’t threaten them. You‘re scaring everyone on board. These are common people. They have no gold. You're attacking the wrong ship." she accidentally let slip.

“What ship has the gold, my dear?" the man asked.
“I don't know but it's not this one." Hermione replied.
"You're a feisty one," the man said admiring Hermione.

"Bring her here!" a man said who was standing next to the rail,
Hermione was guided to him.

She looked up at the hooded figure and all she could see were to round spheres reflecting her image.
He motioned her to the middle of the boat. There Hermione saw planks going to the other ship.


"What are you going to do with me?" Hermione asked, turning to the man.
" The Church is rich, if they want you back they'll pay."
She carefully walked the plank to the other ship.

Hermione was taken below to a small room.
She wasn't sure how long she was there for at least two days. She pretended to pray all the time she was there. Listening and waiting to see what they were doing but she was always asleep when they opened the door and gave her food.
There was a small cot and a bottle for water that never seem to get empty. She was given two meals a day. The third day the door open and she was ushered out on to the deck. The men were all hooded and masked.
The man who wasn't masked but hooded the one who took her on board had glasses on guided Hermione to one side of the ship.
'They're going to push me in to the cold sea,' she thought.


She heard one of the man say,
"Maybe we can have a bit of fun with her before she goes." and they group of the started for her.
But the man who was guiding her step between them and said,
“Any one touches her and you'll be overboard.”
He turned to her and said,
"Go down the ladder and climb into the boat."
Hermione did as she was told and the man came down a few moments later with her bag.

He started rowing. Hermione looked around and saw nothing but water.
"Where are we going?"
"Close your eyes and rest."

Hermione closed her eyes and prayed for some sign from God.
The boat came to an abrupt stop, making Hermione fall off her seat. She opened her eyes to see land, a stone beach and a very large house not to far away. She looked up at the cliffs.

“Come on" the man said.
Hermione picked up her bag and follow the man the house.
The day was grey, cold and dreary and the house was dark and smelled of old damp wood and the sea.

"I was going to lock you in a room but we are going to sea in an hour. No one else is on this island. So don’t even try calling for help. No one will come. There's some food in the kitchen. We should be back in a day or so. There is only one small boat here and I'm taking it back to the ship. You’re in the middle of nowhere. No ships can land here without getting wrecked by the reef. So don't believe for one moment someone may find you here..... I'll get you more wood for the fireplace.

The man took out a long stick out of his robes and sent a spark in to the fireplace making large fire.

Hermione was stunned.
“What is that stick?”

“A wand,” he replied

He started for the door and turned to her and said,
"Don't go out after dark, lock the doors at night and always keep the fireplace lit while we are away."

"But you said no one was here."
"But something is out there...” jerking his head toward the door,
“What is your name, Sister?"
"Ja… “she started to say but stopped, "Eh Hermione call me Hermione, and I'm not a nun yet."
The man’s head moved curiously and Hermione could see a big smile and then he left.

Hermione made herself comfortable she found the food enough for an army. There was a steady water supply that came out of pumps in the kitchen and the bathrooms.
She found candles and lit them in the kitchen the bath and to her great delight a library. The house was huge and very dusty.
Hermione spent most of the day cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom that she was going to use as her room for now.

That night she put the wood on the fire making sure it didn't go out.
She looked at the books in the library most being about ships and sailing books but some on religion, philosophy, art, medicine and poetry.
She fell asleep reading a book on medicine she read all but the last few pages. The information went around in circles in her head all night as she slept.

She woke the next morning confused, thinking it all a dream. Hermione went into her room knelt and prayed as she always did in the morning.
She made herself some breakfast and decided to scrub the hallway floor as that was one of her chores at the convent.
She noticed she was smiling and humming, a thing she rarely did.

She was alone but not lonely.

She scrubbed the walls and washed the windows and before she knew it it was noon. She made herself lunch and decided to go for a walk on the beach.
The stones on the beach were of many sizes and round in shape flat and smooth.

She was still wearing her white habit and saw it was stained and smelled of low tide.

Hermione discovered a tub full of hot water and took a bath. She soaked her clothes in the bathroom and put on a fresh habit. It felt so good to be clean.

Hermione wondered when THEY were going to come back who ever they were… pirates or thieves.
Would the church pay to free her or have they already forgotten about their responsibility for her? She wasn't a nun yet and not well known. The church may think she already died at sea.

She watched the sun go down and there were still no sign of her captors.
Hermione quickly got in the house and locked the door as she was told to do.