Snape laid awake unable to come to terms with the situation he'd found himself in. He was laying in bed, with a student. Though they were both well overdressed, the feeling of her body pressed tightly against his side had left his mind awash with the most self-depreciative thoughts.

He had tried to put space between them, even tried to trick her into holding onto a pillow. It hadn't ended well. He knew he could command her to release him. To turn away, to do anything he wished. Yet, something in the way she had asked him to stay, the tone of pure need, held his tongue. He didn't want to hurt her.

It was almost as though the shackle had been put around his neck. His acidic nature now had immediate physical consequences. What was worse, she hadn't tried to fight him. She had merely accepted the punishment of the brand as though it was to be expected. He feared what would happen if she truly tried to resist.

His eyes turned from the ornate ceiling above. He was so tired. The few hours rest he'd managed were simply not enough for his still healing body. Lying on his back hadn't done him any favors either. The coarse starch of his shirt made the sensitive flesh of his back burn with every small adjustment.

He usually slept shirtless when he'd experienced a lashing. The cool air of the room sating the singed flesh. There was no way he could do that now.

Not with Granger sharing his bed. The very idea sparked a mariad of thoughts he'd that had been well traveled. Her head was nestled at the junction of his shoulder, her hands under her chin. Her legs still tried to curl up, leaving one pressed right above his hip. It would tremble every so often, reminding him of what he'd done. The bone of her knee pressed in near the arch of his waist into a rather sensitive part of his skin.

He couldn't rest like this. It was intolerable at best. It had been so long since he'd shared a bed with anyone. He found that it was excessively smothering. It didn't help that he was still dressed. The layers of clothing only added to his already warm skin making him feel exceptionally disgusting. He needed a shower. He needed space.

He needed a shower, first and foremost. A long, cold, shower. Snape turned his head down looking at the mass of hair that had taken up the available space above her head, envious of her peaceful rest.

This couldn't go on. Snape carefully adjusted himself from beneath the girl who had turned his life upside down. She made a soft noise at the disturbance but fate seemed to be on his side when she merely rolled the other direction curling up into a small ball. It was the luck he needed. He let out the breath he'd held and pulled the blanket up around her, tucking it in around her back to make her feel as though there was someone there.

With a sideways glance, he slunk silently across the room and into the bathroom, not relaxing until the door shut behind him. What would the day bring? The vacation was quickly coming to a close and he knew most of the staff would be returning that day to prepare for their lessons. It wasn't uncommon for him to remain locked away in his tower but that didn't mean he wouldn't have visitors. A particular spartan woman, high on the probability list. How could he possibly look the woman in the eyes knowing that he was keeping prisoner one of her most illustrious students?

oOo

"Morning..." Harry groaned deeply filling the seat beside Ron. The redhead appeared to have gotten a rather large jump over him on breakfast. His plate already empty.

Ron didn't answer, rather he gave him a small grunt and stood up taking the mirror with him. He stomped his way into the living room leaving behind a rather confused Harry.

"What's with him?" Harry looked to Bill who was flipping some sausage in a pan.

"His teaspoon ran over." Bill glanced over his shoulder as Ron flopped down on the couch. Luna passed him without a word, having sensed the young man wasn't in the mood to talk with anyone.

"Good morning, Harry." She gave him a soft smile taking the seat across. Her face had turned a rather gruesome looking purple making Harry grimace when he greeted her.

Bill gave her a kind smile and set a bowl of oatmeal down for her before turning to Harry, "I've already talked to Mum this morning, she's going to get back with us really soon. In the meantime, what do you want for breakfast?"

oOo

Snape pulled the towel from over the shower door with a heavy sigh. His back was now as loose as it could be and the burn sated. He wrapped the towel around his waist without a thought and stepped out into the main room.

His eyes immediately landed on the now open doorway where Granger stood, sleep wrangled on trembling legs. Her eyes went wide when she saw him and an unknown anger welled inside him.

His mouth moved faster than his brain, "Get out!"

As soon as the fury left his lips he instantly regretted his outburst. The mark on her neck flared to life with a rather large spark. The bolt sent her instantly to the floor; knocking her head into the frame on the way down. The cry of pain nearly tore his heart out. He snarled, more at himself than to her.

Forgetting the reason for his outburst, he moved quickly to the door. She was conscious, that was a good sign, but the doorway had left a rather nice cut on her brow. Her arms and legs twitched with the residual spark. He grimaced at the sight and turned calling his wand from where he'd left his change of clothes. The charm he'd set, went off only adding fuel to his barely kept temper.

Wand in hand he knelt beside her, his voice tight with restraint, "Miss Granger?"

"I'm sorry... Pl-ease... I'm so-rry..." Her voice was starting to pop again. Another sharp shock rolled through her frame and her legs curled tight to her chest. Now clear of the doorway, the spell deactivated fading away once again.

A snarl still on his lips, he cast a small charm over her shielded head, sealing the wound. She'd have a headache, but it wasn't life-threatening. The charm went quiet again and Snape had to take a moment to collect himself.

Hermione didn't know what was happening anymore. One moment she was waking to another loss of time, the next she was writhing on the floor in pain. Her body outside of her command. Had he cast a spell on her? She hadn't meant to walk in on him. Why was he torturing her for a mistake? Did his plan fail?

Her body had a mind of its own. She had simply needed to go to the bathroom. Was there a new rule she hadn't been aware of? Why was the Snape acting even more confusing? He had been kind to her before. Almost human. Why was he hurting her now?

Warm hands took hold of her arms and she resisted their pull. She didn't want to move. Her entire body felt as though she'd stuck a wet finger into an outlet. The hands didn't go away. She kept her eyes closed tight and her arms folded near her head as her upper body was moved from the floor. She whined softly at the pain the movement brought to her chest and now pounding skull.

Snape held her as gently as he could, bringing her up into a seated position. He had to do something about his temper. It wouldn't do to keep injuring her. His eyes moved to her neck between her arms and pushed his hand through. If his temper could bring pain, perhaps his forgiveness would bring pleasure?

He hadn't had time to actually research the spell, but slave curses normally had two settings. Pain and Pleasure. The perfect mixture on how to train any living creature into doing your bidding.

"Lower your arms...please." The please was an afterthought but his tone was gentle. Her arms jerked for a second before slowly lowering down. The mark on her neck as black as his hair. He didn't wait for the haze to disappear from her eyes before pressing his palm against the mark.

His thoughts were enough. His brow furrowed when her eyes widened, dilating with a flood of pleasure that the mark sent through. His eyes narrowed just a bit more when she shivered just so. A soft moan, definitely not of pain, whispering past her lips. His hand pulled back then, the vein pulsing near his temple. This was no good. No good at all.

"What did you need in the bathroom?"

Hermione could barely hear his question. Her body and mind were at odds end. Pain and pleasure mixed together in the most confusing array leaving her more at a loss than before. She didn't want to upset him. That much she was certain. Her eyes and brain took a long second to try and communicate with the other and when they did, a deep blush rose on her cheeks.

He was naked. More than that, he was very, close. So close she could smell the soap he'd used on his hair and skin. The towel he was wearing most definitely wasn't covering what it should in his present position. Her eyes, however, didn't wander too far, for fear of unleashing his wrath again. A slow blink rose her eyes to his strict face and she tried to find words.

"T-t-toilet..."

"Alright...but I want you to shower after..." He could smell the stale blood on her clothes. Though they'd been mended all of the blood hadn't been able to be removed. It was just a reminder of how all of this started. "I'll find you something to wear..." He had noticed, she noticed, his lack of attire but with some saint-like restraint, he kept his temper from rolling from him into her.

"What happened to me...?"

His eyes went wide to the question. He had put the fugue-state Granger to sleep. How on earth had the real one come back? It had taken days before. "What's my name?" He had to be sure.

Hermione's brow furrowed, was he worried about the bump she'd gotten from her fall? "Prof-essor Snape...Head-master of Hog-warts..."

She rubbed her throat slightly watching him pull away from her. How much time had she lost? Her eyes turned down to his chest, unable to stop herself. His skin was so pale, not a single hair over the broad expanse. The scars she had seen on his back were just as abundant there as well. Though less defined. Like small jagged lines of white, outlining different features of muscle.

Her throat felt tight, her stomach warm. He was really, really close. Too close. She tracked a bead of water that dripped from his hair over the hills of his collarbone down the valley of his chest. How old was he again?

"The plan was successful...but there is something else we need to discuss." His eyes narrowed at the distant look that had come to her eyes. He didn't much like the way he was staring at him. Hadn't she ever seen a man before?

"Do what I told you." He pressed back onto his heel taking a mind to keep the towel around his waist wrapped as he came to his feet. A quick charm dried his hair and summoned his clothes from the bench beside the shower.

"I shall have Poppet bring you clothes, do not leave the bathroom until she has delivered them."

Hermione had no objections to a shower and thus didn't experience any additional help in following his direction. She took hold of the door frame for support as he made room for her to stand. Not trusting her words, she pulled herself past the threshold into the tiled room. Her head was ringing but her muscles felt strong if a bit fatigued. Like she'd been running marathons or bodybuilding.

"I will be in the office when you finish." Snape gave her another look over, before pulling the door shut.

Hermione turned her head slowly from the door. What on earth was happening? Nothing made sense. The pulsing in her skull made her normally organized brain feel like a tornado had blown through. Too much to process at once. One thing did stick out from her mind. Why did her clothes smell uniquely of him, and why had she woken in his bed?

Snape sighed heavily raising his head to the heavens. How was he supposed to survive this? Was he meant to? Hadn't he suffered enough for the hand of good? The devil's hand was no better. His life was taking its dues on all that he had done. This girl, this woman, was surely going to be the end of him. Why did he even care? It wasn't like he was going to see a day beyond this war. No, the fates were too unkind.

Why had he dared to love another?

oOOo

"This portkey will take you to the safehouse where she is staying. You must be quick, as there are many traps lying in wait for those who do not know the way." Molly set down a map on the table, "You will arrive at the beginning of the maze, you must follow this exact path no matter what may happen. There are bogarts and a many number of other creatures that will stand in your way. Do not split up. You won't be able to apparate once you're inside the maze. The best you can do is send up a flare, even then the walls may change and prevent you from reaching each other."

"That's an awful lot of security for one person." Ron looked down at the map his stomach starting to grow a bit queasy.

"This secret keeper was Dumbledore's key to sucess during the first war. She has the ability to see things others can not." Remus folded his arms, "She has been hidden so well this time because of the wounds she had suffered from the first war. She has been unwilling to participate on either side this time but we're hoping that speaking with you, Harry, may help us have her on our side again."

"If she doesn't?"

"Then let's hope the will at least help you with the spell. She's the only one who knows how to break through wards strong enough to hide a person from detection."

"Will she fight us?"

"It's is highly unlikely." Molly folded the map handing it to Ron, "She has never been violent before and Dumbledore has spoken to her on more than one occasion during this war. It's the Order's belief that there is a debt between them."

"So what do we do when we get to the house?" Harry wasn't so sure about finding out more things about Dumbledore's less than glamorous history, but if it gave him a chance to get Hermione back safely, it was worth the risk.

"Knock three times on the door, wait ten seconds and knock a fourth time. That should open the door for you. After that, you'll be on your own." Remus handed over a small journal, "Everything we've just told you is in there. Left behind by Dumbledore before his death."

"I want to go with you." Luna had been listening quietly from the corner but now her interest was more than peeked.

"No way, it's much too dangerous." Harry tucked the journal into his coat, turning to give Luna his full attention.

"So is going back to Hogwarts when term begins again but I'm willing to take the risk." Luna kept her calm coming closer, "Besides neither of you were able to correctly cast the spell, it might be wise for me to tag along just in case she needs you to cast it again."

Harry frowned deeply looking at Remus and Molly for help. Neither one, however, seemed to have an opinion on it and if they did, they weren't sharing. Harry looked to Ron next. He needed him on his side as well. They'd both been building up to another explosion like the one that had sent him from the tent what felt like a lifetime ago.

"I don't care either way, so long as we get Hermione home." Ron avoided his mother's disapproving gaze, lowering his head down to look at his feet.

Harry ground his teeth before turning his eyes back to Luna, "It has to be okay with your Dad..." He hoped that he would say no, he really didn't want to bring another innocent person into the mess that had become his life.

oOo

Snape raised his head from the stones he was working on when the fire in the fireplace flared green. He quickly closed the journal and stowed it away in his desk before coming around the edge.

"Severus? Can I come through?"

Snape pursed his lips, definitely not the visitor he had been expecting. He grunted his approval and lifted the gate, taking a few steps back to allow Godson properly into the room. He watched the boy turn young man carefully take a few steps into the space, looking around as though he were looking for someone. Snape raised a brow but otherwise kept his face devoid of emotion.

"Expecting someone else?"

Draco winced slightly but quickly schooled his features. His dreams had only gotten worse since seeing her laid out before the Dark Lord like a sacrifice. In fact, she had been the nights original 'entertainment' before it came to be known that her mind was damaged. His stomach still turned when he thought back to all the things Goyle and Crabb had boasted about wanting to do, if they had been given the chance. Draco had hoped that it was simply puffed up talk to appease their father's bloodlust but he feared that it wasn't the case.

"No... just came to deliver a message." Draco shifted slightly, "The Dark Lord is going to be having a...party to bring in a new series of Deatheaters who have finally come of age... He wants everyone who sits at his table to attend so that they will know who has finally joined us..."

"What time?"

"8. He expects you to bring a... guest with you." Draco looked most uncomfortable, a feeling that wasn't helped when the door from the living chambers opened.

Snape turned as Draco looked behind him. He had hoped she would have taken much longer but what was done was done. The clothes Poppet had found for her appeared to be clothes from the lost and found. A pair of black muggle jeans that were still in need of being altered to fit properly, or at least in his opinion, as they looked way to tight to be comfortable. A white uniform shirt and what appeared to be a Ravenclaw house sweater vest, sans the crest patch, completed the ensemble. Her hair had been put back as well, still damp and neatly plaited over her shoulder.

Hermione came to a jerking halt as she took sight of Draco Malfoy standing there. Her entire body went into fight or flight mode. Her mind choosing the later and promplty shut down.

Snape watched it and even felt it when he tried to press into her mind for her to tred carefully. It was like the brilliant light inside her mind that made her who she was suddenly blinked out, like an old muggle light bulb. The spike of adrenaline made her tremble ever so slightly and her brow shifted from deep thought to confusion.

Hermione looked around the space. She couldn't remember coming to be there. Or why she was there. Her only clue was the man in black standing there as though he had been expecting her. Her stomach quivered and her legs trembled slightly. The blond beside him was watching her very intently. She didn't like him.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape kept himself perfectly calm despite the confusion that was going through him. He needed more information about fugue states, something wasn't making sense, at least not to him.

Hermione didn't know what she wanted. So she stayed where she was, like a mouse cornered too afraid to make a move. Her inaction spurred the Professor into coming closer and she couldn't help but wonder what he wanted. Did he want her to speak? Did he want her to go?

"My...M-y na-me is..." Her words halted their harsh whisper when his hand came up.

Snape frowned more when she tried to recite the task he'd given her. He could tell she only wanted to appease him, but that wasn't what he wanted at the moment. He closed the distance between them in a few long strides his heart going tight when she cowed back away from him. This fear was new.

He took her gently around the arm, worried that she may lose her footing. "Go back inside the room, sit beside the fire and wait for me."

Hermione was grateful for the direction and turned to his guiding hand. She looked back one last time to the blond who had come just a bit closer. Not wanting to be around him any more than she had, she slipped back into the living quarters.

Snape closed the door firmly behind her and overtly cast a locking charm over the door. When he turned back he could tell Draco had been a deep thought.

"Is she really gone...?"

Snape was most confused by the question, not its meaning, no he understood that very well. Rather he was more confused about the boy's interest at all. It wasn't like he and Granger had ever been on the spectrum of friendship. Why did he care now what happened to her?

"That remains to be seen. It really isn't your concern now is it?" Snape's tone was sharp enough to make the boy wince. He could see the thoughts turning in his mind. He blamed himself, as he should, but there was something else. A fear of what was to come.