Chapter Eleven - Encounters
The drawing room of the Riddle House was still only dimly lit by the fire in the fireplace. Voldemort sat in an armchair facing the fire, his face hidden inside a deep hood.
"Wormtail," he hissed.
"Yes, Master," replied Peter Pettigrew as moved to stand submissively next to his master.
"Dumbledore and Potter are fools. Certainly, I can't enter in to Potter's mind easily anymore, but the mudblood's...Potter's bond gives me access to her mind." Voldemort shifted in his chair. "So, they think they will be getting married at Easter, do they?" He laughed , the sound chilling Pettigrew's already cold heart. "Oh, I think they'll have a wedding they'll never forget for as long as they live...which won't be very long indeed!"
"Summon my loyal Death Eaters. I want them to stop all actions against Muggles, the Ministry, and Dumbledore's so-called Order. We're basically going to disappear from now until Easter."
"Won't that raise suspicions, master?"
"You dare to question me? Perhaps a little...Crucio!...will remind you who the master is here!" snapped Voldemort. He left Pettigrew writhing under the curse, while he continued to speak. "Besides, if they can't find us, it's not really going to matter if it does, now is it, Wormtail?"
He lifted the curse, allowing Pettigrew to gasp, "I would think not, master."
"That leaves one small problem." said Voldemort. "I think it's time we dealt with Severus--dear traitor Severus... I've given him a number of chances, but this owl incident... I will no longer abide him!" he hissed. "Have the...conference room prepared. And send Lucius and Bellatrix in to see me. Severus should be arriving soon..."
-*~*~*~*~*-
Professor Snape hissed in pain as he hurried along the hall leading towards the Headmaster's office. He didn't have much time, but he needed to tell Albus that he was being summoned at such an odd hour. 'It probably doesn't mean anything good,' he reflected.
He reached the entrance to the Headmaster's office and snarled the password "chocolate frog" at the guardian statue. The door opened and he hurried up the stairs.
"What is it, Severus?" asked Dumbledore, as Snape entered his office.
"I'm being summoned, but something about it doesn't feel right. For one thing, it's bloody six-thirty in the morning--he never wants to see me during the day!"
"Hmm," said Dumbledore with a concerned look in his eyes. He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out small wooden box with a lock on the front. He unlocked it and pulled out a simple gold chain with a small ruby pendant attached. "Here," he said, handing it to Severus, "Wear this."
"What is it?"
"It's the only help I can give you at this short notice. Merely by willing it, you can stop time for everyone except yourself for approximately five minutes. Use it wisely though, it only works once, and once those five minutes are up, you had better be on your way back here."
"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape. "What's to stop them from removing it?"
"Only you can remove it once it's on."
"Very well," replied Snape. He slipped it on over his head and hid it beneath his robes.
"Severus," said Dumbledore, "Be careful. Your worth to us is more than just as a spy in Tom's service. We'd hate to lose you."
"Potter wouldn't miss me," growled Snape.
"Severus..." Dumbledore shook his head. "Now is not the time to discuss your feelings towards Harry. But when you make it back, would you consider again taking him into Advanced Potions?"
Severus considered for a second. "If I make it back, I'll think about it. But I make no promises."
"Good enough, Severus. Good Luck."
Professor Snape nodded and swept out of the office, hurrying to the apparition point outside of Hogsmeade. As he apparated to Little Hangleton, he wondered if this was the last time he'd see the castle.
-*~*~*~*~*-
He arrived in the graveyard next to the house. The dawn was somewhat chill and he pulled his robes closer around him as he strode up to the house. The moon still hung high in the sky; just a fingernail joining the rising sun in providing a steadily brightening light to illuminate the path that he'd walked so many times before. No matter what happened today, he figured this was the last time he'd be walking it.
There was no one guarding the front door which was the first sign that something was unusual about this morning. There was always someone waiting at the door. He entered the house and walked toward the drawing room, where he knew the Dark Lord awaited. As he approached the room, he heard muttered conversation involving the words "Potter" and "Easter", and he mentally filed it away as being possibly important.
Snape recognized a number of the other Death Eaters in the room when he entered. They weren't masked, which was another sign that something was wrong.
"You summoned me, my lord?" he asked as he entered.
"Yes, Severus," hissed Voldemort. "Why did you not tell me about Potter's owl being seen near where we suspect the Order of having their headquarters?"
"My lord? When was this? I was not aware of this." Snape occluded fiercely as Voldemort turned and stared into his eyes. After a moment, Voldemort turned away shaking his head.
"Severus, Severus, you can't even tell a believable lie. You were SEEN! Crucio!"
Snape dropped to his knees as pure agony swept through his body. He gritted his teeth and refused to scream. Voldemort held him under the spell for what felt like hours even though it was but minutes. When he finally released him, Snape dropped to his hands, gasping for breath.
"Severus, I've long been aware of your...shall we say...divided loyalties. I kept hoping that you would realize the error of your ways and return to the fold." He tapped his fingertips together. "Apparently I was a fool. I don't like feeling like I'm a fool, Severus," said Voldemort quietly.
"Stand up Severus!" he suddenly shouted.
Snape wearily got to his feet, and stared back at the Dark Lord.
"Still defiant, Severus? Crucio!"
Snape managed to remain standing this time, although the pain was just as bad as before. Only a slight groan escaped his mouth.
"Bella," said Voldemort, "Take his wand."
"Yes, Master," she said. She walked up to Snape where he stood gasping after the latest cruciatus curse, and gave him a twisted smile. "Oh, Severus...no wait, what was it my erstwhile blood traitor cousin called you...Snivellus, wasn't it? Yes, Snivellus. You really thought you could fool our Lord?" She plucked his wand out of his sleeve and then brought a knee up swiftly into his groin. He dropped to the floor and curled into a ball, hoping they wouldn't notice him trying to reach the pendant. "That's for being a traitor!"
"Bella," hissed Voldemort.
She stepped back immediately. "Yes, Master."
"McNair, Lucius, Stand him up immediately."
McNair and Lucius Malfoy each took one of Snape's arms and lifted him to his feet.
"Severus, what were you reaching for?" asked Voldemort with a growl. "Strip him!"
Several Death Eaters tore Snape's robes off of him, revealing the pendant.
"What's this?" asked Voldemort. "Goyle, remove it from him!"
"Too scared to take it yourself, my lord?" sneered Snape hoarsely. He spat at Voldemort but missed. McNair slugged him in the stomach.
"Do not insult the Dark Lord!" shouted Malfoy.
"Goyle!" snapped Voldemort.
Goyle came up to Severus and reached for the pendant, but his hand passed right through it. "I can't touch it, my lord," said Goyle nervously.
"Fool!" snapped Voldemort. He pushed Goyle aside and reached for the pendant himself, but hissed when his hand passed right though it as well.
"So, only Severus can remove it. How clever of Dumbledore..."
"What if we remove his head, master," said Bellatrix Lestrange with an insane gleam in her eyes. "Then we could remove it."
"Yes, Bella, that would probably work," answered Voldemort, "But that would also deprive us of the hours of fun I intend to have with this traitor...Not that he will enjoy them." He paused for a moment, "No I have a better idea. Imperio!" He shouted.
Snape felt the feelings of well-being and complete willingness creep over him.
"Remove the pendant, Severus," said Voldemort.
With a snarl, Snape threw off the curse.
Voldemort growled, "Still strong-willed? I can fix that! Crucio! Bella! Dolohov! With me!"
Bella and Antonin Dolohov added their crucio's to Voldemort's, and they held Snape under the curse until he could no longer help himself and screamed in utter agony, falling on the floor. After a few minutes of this, Voldemort hissed, "Enough!"
Snape lay gasping on the floor, his muscles twitching, and tears running down his face.
"Imperio! Remove the pendant, Severus!" snapped Voldemort.
Severus's hands twitched and one crept up his chest toward the pendant. It was obvious that he was fighting it, and finally, as he was about to touch it, he managed to snarl "No!" and throw the curse off.
"Do you really want to end up like the Longbottoms' Severus? Of course, that would save you from knowing your death's coming, wouldn't it?" asked Voldemort in a conversational tone of voice. "You will remove that pendant eventually, you know."
"Let's do this again, shall we? Crucio!" He nodded at Dolohov and Bella, and they again added their curses to Voldemort's. They held him under even longer this time, until he was so hoarse from screaming that he could no longer scream, and he lost control of his bladder and the scent of urine invaded the room.
"Aw, Snivellus wet his pants," laughed Bella.
"Enough," snapped Voldemort, and they removed the curses from Snape.
"Imperio! Remove the pendant, Severus!"
Snape no longer had the energy to fight the curse, and his hand went up, took the pendant and was about to remove it, when it flashed and everyone stopped moving. He climbed to his feet wearily, using the unmoving figure of Lucius Malfoy as a ladder. He stumbled his way over to Bellatrix and removed his wand from where she had it stuck through her robe sash.
He stumbled and crawled his way out of the house, his legs refusing to hold him up for longer than a couple of minutes at a time. On the front porch, he slipped on the steps and rolled down them, groaning in pain at the abuse his already horribly abused body was taking. The sun was already risen into the sky, and he realized that he'd been in the house for at least an hour.
He was half-way to the graveyard when he heard shouts from the house, and he forced his body to hurry, knowing that he didn't have much time. He'd reached the boundaries of the apparation wards just as he heard feet pounding behind him, and he gratefully apparated just as he heard Bellatrix Lestrange shout the beginnings of a petrification curse.
-*~*~*~*~*-
As had been fairly standard for most of the summer, Hermione opened her eyes to find an intensely green pair looking into hers.
"Good morning, love," said Harry.
"Good morning." She smiled back at him.
They crawled out of bed, and got ready to go down to breakfast. "I wonder what our schedules will look like?" wondered Harry.
"Well, mine will be full as usual," said Hermione. "I'm taking N.E.W.T.s in all of my O.W.L. subjects."
Harry shook his head and smiled. "You say that so calmly. I'd be a nervous wreck."
He went over to where she was standing in front of the mirror brushing her hair and gave her a hug. "I don't believe that I've told you how much I love you this morning, Ms. Granger."
She turned around in his arms and looked at him with a smile. "I don't believe you have either, Mr. Potter. Are you going to rectify that?"
He gave her a gentle kiss. "I love you, Ms. Granger, with all of my heart," he said, after their lips had parted. He hugged her tight to his chest.
Hermione never felt more safe and content than when she was encircled by Harry's arms. She snuggled into the hug, closed her eyes, and just enjoyed the feelings of peace and safety she got when in his arms. After a minute or two of that, they separated from each other with a sigh, and went down to breakfast.
Entering the Great Hall together, they noticed there were a large number of Gryffindors gathered around the end of the table where Harry and Hermione normally sat. As they approached, the crowd of students parted and revealed two empty spaces side by side at the table.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a moment, and Harry said to Ron, who was sitting on one side of the empty area, "What's this all about?"
"Oh, you know," said Ron with a grin, "Everybody just wants to know what's going on with you two."
Harry sighed and looked at Hermione, who was looking just a little bit put out at all of the attention.
"Look," she said, holding up her engagement ring, "We're engaged, okay? It's a long story how we got to be that way, and I for one don't feel like repeating it. There are parts of it I don't like remembering..."
Harry added, "There's an old wizarding tradition that allows engaged couples to live together; that's why we have our room in the tower. Now can we please eat our breakfast in peace?"
"Go on, back to your seats," came the voice of Professor McGonagall as she pressed through the crowd of Gryffindors. "I have your schedules to hand out."
Harry waited until Hermione had seated herself at the table before sitting next to her.
He said quietly, "I didn't think it would attract this much attention."
She smiled back at him. "It'll die down eventually."
"Hermione," said Lavender, who was sitting across from her, "Can I see your ring? I didn't get a good look at it."
Hermione exended her hand across the table so that Lavender could see the ring.
"Oh, my God!" she squealed, "That's gorgeous. You have good taste, Harry."
Harry blushed. "Thanks," he said.
Professor McGonagall came by and handed Harry, Hermione, and Ron their schedules. They examined them while eating their breakfasts, and discovered that while they shared a number of classes together, such as Care of Magical Creatures(which they had next), Defense Against the Dark Arts, and a couple of others; Harry and Hermione also had blank areas in their schedules labelled "Headmaster's Office".
"These must be for that extra training Professor Dumbledore was talking about," said Hermione. She frowned, "Some of the classes I signed up for aren't on here, I wonder why?"
"Because, Ms. Granger," said Professor McGonagall who'd been standing near them, "You can't use a time-turner this year." She lowered her voice so that only Harry, Hermione, and Ron could hear, "It would have very adverse effects on your bond."
Hermione frowned for a moment, but then smiled at Harry and squeezed his hand. "That's alright," she said, "I'd rather spend time with you anyway."
-*~*~*~*~*-
The trio was making their way across the lawn to Hagrid's cabin for Care of Magical Creatures, when there was a scream from a first year girl in front of them.
Harry looked up in time to see an exhausted, half-naked Professor Snape crash to the ground just inside the front gates. "Come on!" he said, and ran over to Snape.
"What happened, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"Granger," gasped Snape, obviously in pain, "Must see the Headmaster."
"Let's get you to the hospital wing," said Harry. "Ron, go find Professor Dumbledore and have him meet us there."
Ron nodded and ran off towards the Castle.
Harry got one of Snape's arms around his shoulders, and with Hermione's help, started towards the hospital wing.
They were just entering the ward when Dumbledore and Ron came through the doors behind them. "Poppy!" shouted Dumbledore.
"Yes, Albus?" she said, coming out of her office. "Oh, dear," she said as she caught sight of Professor Snape. "What happened?"
"He came in the front gate looking like this," answered Harry. He and Hermione guided Snape over to a bed and allowed him to collapse on to it.
"Severus, what happened?" asked Dumbledore concernedly.
"I was right," Snape gasped. "Potter's owl. I was seen that day. Dark Lord...knows..I was traitor." He was shaking all over as if he were suffering from extreme chills.
Hermione turned a bit pale at his words. Harry took her hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze.
Madame Pomphrey came bustling over. "Albus, I really must insist you continue this later. Professor Snape needs to rest."
"What about my classes?" asked Snape through chattering teeth. His hands were almost jumping off the bed, they were shaking so badly.
"You are in no condition to teach, Severus," said Madame Pomphrey, alarmed. "You need to rest. What curses did they use on you?"
Severus made an effort to stop his teeth from chattering and growled, "Crucio, imperio, and physical abuse. Who's going to teach my classes?" He tried to sit up, but gasped in pain.
"Severus!" snapped Madame Pomphrey. She waved her wand and cast a diagnostic spell, then frowned. "Albus, he has suffered nerve damage of some kind. You need to leave so I can treat him!"
"Very well, Poppy," replied Dumbledore to Madame Pomphrey. He looked at Snape. "Rest, Severus, I'll take care of your classes. Come, children."
"Wait," gasped Snape, "One more thing. They were... talking... about Potter... and Easter. Might be...important." He fainted. Madame Pomphrey shooed them away from the bed, and drew the curtains around it.
Dumbledore left the hospital ward, Harry, Hermione, and Ron trailing after him.
"Professor," asked Hermione, once they had left the hospital ward, "What did he mean in there...about Harry's owl?"
Dumbledore looked at her and frowned regretfully. "I'm afraid that he was seen when he saw Harry's owl returning to Grimmauld Place. He didn't report it to Tom, and that gave him away. He was summoned this morning..."
He stopped in the hallway in front of his office and looked closely at Hermione, who was looking very guilty and upset. "Ms. Granger, you are not to blame yourself for this. Severus knew that something was wrong when he was summoned this morning; he didn't have to go, but he chose to anyway. That is not your fault."
"But, Professor," she said, "If I hadn't sent Hedwig out in the first place, none of this would've happened!" Tears were running down her face at the thought that she'd been responsible for causing hurt to someone.
"Ms. Granger...Hermione, Severus has been getting hints that he was under suspicion for a while now." Dumbledore smiled at her, "This isn't your fault, Ms. Granger."
Harry drew her into a hug. "Come on, love. Professor Dumbeldore's right. Snape..."
"Professor Snape, Harry," interupted Dumbledore.
"Right, Professor Snape knew what he was risking when he got involved in this, love. This isn't your fault."
"But what if he'd died?" she sniffed, "My stupidity almost killed him, and all over a silly birthday present I could have gotten you anytime."
Harry twisted his ring nervously on his finger. "Sweetheart..."
"No!" she said, "I could've gotten you that once we'd gotten to Hogwarts. It would've been a little late, but at least I wouldn't have endangered anyone!"
Dumbledore had been watching this with an unreadable expression on his face. "Ms. Granger, you must not blame yourself for this." He turned to Harry. "Do you know of anything concerning yourself and Easter that they might have been talking about?"
Harry paled slightly and glanced at Hermione, who was looking back at Harry with a concerned and teary expression. He cleared his throat. "That's...that's when Hermione and I were discussing having our wedding. But we haven't mentioned that to anyone! You haven't owled your mum yet, have you, sweetheart?"
Hermione shook her head negatively. "We were only discussing it yesterday; I haven't had time to. What's going on, Harry?" she asked plaintively. "How did they find out?"
Harry shook his head with a look at Dumbledore. "I don't know, love. I certainly haven't been visited by Voldemort that I know about. My scar hasn't hurt in weeks."
Ron said at this point, "It wouldn't have anything to do with their bond, would it, Professor?"
"I don't know, Mr. Weasley," answered Dumbledore. "However, Harry, when you and Hermione come for your lessons in protecting your bond, I think we'd better work on occlumency as well... for both you and Ms. Granger."
He looked at them. "Your first lesson is tonight after dinner. Please be prompt. The three of you had best be off to Care of Magical Creatures now. Tell Hagrid to come see me if he has any questions as to why you are late."
"Thanks, Professor," said Harry. He still had his arm around Hermione as he pulled her away down the hall, Ron trailing behind.
"Why'd you get so upset, 'Mione?" asked Ron, "It's only Snape, for crying out loud."
Hermione glared at Ron, "Ronald Weasley, you are the most insensitive, and uncaring, excuse for a human being I've ever met! 'It's only Snape, indeed!' He's a person, and he deserves our respect for that if nothing else! Ron, he almost died because I screwed up! I don't EVER want to hear you talk that way in front of me again!"
She looked at Harry angrily and snapped, "And that goes for you too!" She pulled away from him and stomped off down the hall to the main entrance, leaving Harry standing there with a gaping mouth.
"What did I say?" he muttered. He glared at Ron for a second, and then took off down the hall after her. "'Mione, wait! What did I say? Why are you mad at me?"
-*~*~*~*~*-
Harry had caught up with Hermione just outside the main entrance, and by the time they'd reached Hagrid's hut, she was speaking to him again. She hadn't been really mad at him--after all, he hadn't really said anything--it's just she knew how he felt about Snape, and the bond had fed her his subconcious agreement with Ron's words.
She still wasn't speaking to Ron however. Hagrid had the three of them team up together since they were the last to arrive at class. Harry had explained to Hagrid why they were late in hushed tones, not wanting Malfoy and his cronies to overhear.
Hagrid led the three of them over to a barrel filled with water and said, "This 'un's yours."
"Um, Hagrid," said Harry, "It's a barrel of water."
"Naw, Harry, it's a water selkie," replied Hagrid.
"A water selkie?" said Hermione skeptically. "Aren't they supposed to be very dangerous?"
"Not if you raise 'em up from a kit, Hermione," said Hagrid.
She'd looked unconvinced, but spent the rest of the class period working with Harry and Ron, although more with Harry than Ron.
"Harry, ask Ron to pass me the pond lily extract, please," she said. Harry rolled his eyes, but did as she asked.
A little while later, Ron said, "Harry, ask your grumpy girlfriend there for the Selkie food please."
And so the rest of the class period passed, Harry getting more and more frustrated with the two of them. He was more sympathetic to her feelings than Ron's however, having been where she was emotionally before. He could feel through the bond how upset she was about having inadventently been the cause of Professor Snape's injuries, and that was something he had a lot of empathy for. There were days that he still blamed himself for Sirius's death, although those had gotten far fewer than they were at the beginning of the summer. He tried to keep only the empathy and sympathy visible through the bond, but he knew some of the frustration was showing as well.
Needless to say, he was very grateful when the class came to an end, and the three of them headed up towards the castle for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
A snide voice brought the three of them to a halt. "Hey, potty, what's it like shagging a mudblood?"
Harry felt his anger rush back, and he whipped around. Hermione grabbed his hand before he could whip out his wand, though, and said, "Harry, it's not worth it." She was feeding him calmness through the bond, and he could feel his initial reaction fading away.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Malfoy," he responded.
Draco sneered. "No, not really. Some of us have much better taste than that. Besides," he continued snootily, "I don't have to taste the milk to know it's rotten, I can tell by the smell."
"Oh, good one," said Hermione, "Did your mommy teach you that one? Because we know you aren't smart enough to come up with something like that on your own."
Draco's face twisted. "Tell the mudblood to keep her mouth shut, Potter, or I'll shut it for her."
Ron snarled, "Malfoy, you great bloody git, I'd like..."
Harry held up his hand to interupt Ron, and gave a sigh, "Draco, you simply don't scare us any more. After all, if that muggle-born git that your dear old dad worships doesn't scare me, why should you? You're nothing." He shook his head in mock sorrow, "And you really need to come up with better material, 'Tell the mudblood to keep her mouth shut, Potter, or I'll shut it for her' is not only overused, but also not possible." Harry's face darkened and he snarled, "If you do anything to her, I won't care if I get expelled for what I will do to you, got me?"
Harry and Hermione turned around and headed for the castle. After a moment of glaring at Malfoy, Ron turned and followed them.
"You'll be dead by Halloween!" shouted Malfoy, "All three of you!"
"Here!, what's all this noise, then?" asked Hagrid. "Go on, Mr. Malfoy, you'll be late, and I won't be writin' you a note."
Draco snarled, "Freak!" and stomped up towards the castle, Goyle and Nott following.
"That'll be ten points from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy," returned Hagrid. He turned and went back inside his cabin.