In a Temple by the Sea

Chapter Two: In a Temple By the Sea: Decisions Decisions

She was all easy, sloping curves. And she moved in a gentle rocking, swaying fashion. She turned in the center of the near empty temple, only residual remains of the hospital it had once been. The light cotton, medieval cut dress spun out around her like a blossoming orchid. Long curly hair, far longer than she'd ever allowed it to be, bounced with her steps, her partner in the dance. Sunlight poured through in between the pillars of stone, and she twirled gracefully through them, delighting in the way her shadow abruptly disappeared and reappeared. She stopped, smiling at the way the world tilted and spun before her. A tall figure leant against one pillar, his dark pants and light shirt moving from one side of her vision to the other. Gradually, he stopped moving. Hermione took a step towards him and fumbled for her balance. After several tries, her steps got stronger and she was able to make her way to him with some semblance of dignity.

"Hello, my dear," he said kindly, and she smiled at him.

"Hello, my new husband," she said as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss the end of his very long nose. He smiled and she giggled, winding her arms around his neck to better reach him. He allowed her one brief kiss before her feet left the ground. Slowly he spun her, almost idyllically.

"So, my dear, you like to spin?" he asked as he rotated them faster and faster. Hermione let out a thrilled shriek and clung tighter to him. The room spun and the only thing that stayed in focus was those incredible eyes.

'Focus on me,' his mind whispered to hers. 'Keep your eyes on me. Focus, Hermione!' His voice thundered through her skull. She opened her eyes and locked her gaze on him. 'Focus,' she thought to herself while the Death Eaters rallied around her, exploring her flesh. It had been a while since there had been a new female Death Eater to delight in, and the men were excited to have her. Apparently Bellatrix was no longer satisfying; she'd been used up. Hermione let her mind drift, to the palaces of France, and the gardens of Giverny. Where the flowers grew bright and vivid and the air was filled with pollen and the humming of bees. Where hummingbirds danced and the sun always shone. This was where Hermione went when life got too horrid to handle.

"Well done, my child," his voice whispered. Hermione smiled at him blissfully, caught up in the memory of sunshine and heat, unaware of what may or may not have occurred. The first thing she really saw were his eyes, before she looked to her Lord.

"Thank you, Master," she whispered. A bit of groveling and modesty never hurt in this business.

"I'm sure you've heard the rumors that Severus has... trouble, with the ladies. I'm hoping you can cure him of that. Take her home with you, Severus. And I better see some action when you return." Severus allowed himself one quick glare in their Master's direction before exiting the room; Hermione scrambled up, audacious enough to wink at the Dark Lord as she followed, clad in nothing but her birthday suit and seemingly careless of the fact.

The memory faded and Hermione found she was still safe in those eyes. She smiled and leant in to kiss him, and the spinning stopped... or started, depending how you look at it.

***

Dumbledore had asked for a volunteer. Hermione shifted in her seat uncomfortably. 'What can be so horrid that he won't just assign it?' she wondered, glancing around at the room's other occupants, who were also looking miffed. "I need someone for a deep cover operation, much like the one Severus has been on the past twenty years. Please give this some lengthy consideration; it is not to be undertaken lightly. That's all, go home."

He looked old. HiHis hand was a whithered black h

His hand was withered and shrunken, a twisted black remnant of what it had once been. 'He needs another spy. He doesn't know how to do this without the information Severus brought him. I don't know how we'd do this without the information Snape brings in.' Severus had been discovered a week prior, and had barely escaped. The official news was that he'd been killed. Order members knew he'd been sent to a safe house until the war ended. Hermione waited until the room had emptied before making steely eye contact with Dumbledore.

"I'll do it," she said quietly. He looked up from his slumped, brooding pose.

"What?" It was as if nothing computed in his brain anymore, as if everything was a bit fuzzy.

"I'm the logical choice. Harry can't do it; Ginny can't do it because she's his rock. Ron and Lavender are in love. The twins have an assignment, and only they're brilliant enough to do it. Neville is hopeless at espionage and Luna's too spacey. The Patil twins are idiots. I'm the logical choice. I can do it and I will do it." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, daring him to refute her logic. He only sighed.

"I know. Go tell your parents goodbye and be back here at six. I need to speak to Severus." He waved a hand at her and she walked out the door, her back held in a rigid line. 'He knew it would be me. He knew... What have I gotten myself into?' she wondered as she closed the door, swallowing uncertainly as she did so.