Damaged Goods

Damaged Goods

Part 3

Severus Snape strode towards the potion classroom, his face livid with anger. Students paled and stepped quickly out of the violate potions master's path.

Those damn fools! he thought for the tenth time. Dumbledore had called him to his office during lunch to tell him he had failed in getting the Ministry to reveal to him who the first notice about the use of the Obliviate Charm at the Grangers' resident had been sent to. It had taken two weeks for them to politely tell the Headmaster to fuck off, that it was none of his business and to remind him he only held his current position due to the leniency of the Ministry.

Hermione Granger had recovered from her fall in the classroom but he knew she was still being violated, still being misused at the hands of probably one of his own house. Last Friday in Potions she had sat there, slicing the same root over and over until there was nothing left but a pile of slivers. Neville Longbottom had gently taken over and Severus had been surprised to see the blundering idiot of Potions help the once brightest student to complete the assignment.

He had watched carefully during meals, eyeing each of his students in hopes that someone would look at Miss Granger. That's all he wanted, just a look. Someone to take the rage he felt out on. But he had noticed nothing. Not even Malfoy and his sidekicks seemed to bother her in the hall anymore, sneering about her being a Mudblood.

Spending sleepless nights outside the Gryffindor common room had not helped his mood. Minerva had relieved him each night, waiting as he did for the portrait door to swing open. It had been in vain. He only hoped she had stopped her weekly rendezvous with whoever was mistreating her so.

That hope was quickly dashed after breakfast that morning. Minerva had pulled him aside and told him that Miss Brown had informed her that Hermione had left during the night.

"Bloody hell, Minerva," he snapped at her, "did you fall asleep?"

"I was about to ask you the same question Severus," she hissed.

"I assure you that no one left that room while I was there," he hissed back at her.

"And neither did they while I was there," she said defeatedly.

"How is she getting out? Is there a secret passage from Gryffindor?" he asked accusingly.

"If there were, do you not think I would have told you?" she flared, before her face crumbled. "Oh Severus, the worst part is Miss Brown told me that Hermione stripped her bed while they were at breakfast."

"Yes?" Severus asked, not following her.

"Her sheets, they were soaked in blood."

"Damn," he swore. "Do you think...?"

"No Severus, she is not alright. And never will be unless we force her to tell us what is going on."

His eyes darkened. Yes, he thought, they would have to do just that.

***

Entering the classroom with stormy thoughts, he didn't look at the students as he began writing ingredients on the blackboard. "This is a simple potion," he barked at them over his shoulder. It was beneath fifth years to tackle it, but he was not in the mood for any potion mishaps today. "You should be able to do this without me standing over your shoulders for once."

He turned to the class and immediately noticed the empty seat beside Longbottom.

"Where is Miss Granger?" he demanded coldly of the Gryffindors. No one spoke.

"Someone answer me," he said dangerously, his eyes flashing at Potter and Weasley. Lavender Brown spoke up, though her voice squeaked, "I saw her going into the girls' loo after lunch."

"Did you think to go check on her?"

"No sir."

"Then think girl, go!" He shouted at her. "The rest of you turn to page 400 and start working on the Shrinking Potion." He walked back to his desk and sat for a moment. Icy fear gripped him and with a snarl he got up, following the path of Miss Brown.

Turning the corner, a distressed Lavender slammed into him. Tears were running down her face as he pulled her off him. "What is it Miss Brown?" he asked harshly.

"Hermione, she..there..."

"Spit it out girl," he said shaking her.

" The blood, I ...."

"Damn." He released her, running in the direction of the girls' bathroom. Throwing open the door he scanned the room. His heart sunk as he saw the dark shape of a figure with tangled gold brown curls lying beneath one of the stalls. Praying he wasn't too late, he jerked open the stall door. Hermione lay there pale and still, a pool of blood gathering around her as it flowed from her slit wrists, the shard of a broken mirror lying beside her.

*****

"We have no other choice Minerva," Albus said gently. "As you pointed out the girl has lost her will to live. We need answers and she is the only one that can give them."

"But Albus, putting a student under the Veritaserum without their permission....."

"And do you think she will agree to it otherwise," Severus said acidly.

She glared at him.

"Albus I demand to be present."

"Minerva, things may be said that you will wish you had not heard."

"Either I am here or I will not agree to it."

Severus walked over to the older woman and put an arm around her shoulders. "I understand, and yes, you may be present," he said quietly, "though you may hate me for it."

Her face fell. "You foolish boy, do you think I live under a silk umbrella?" She kissed him on the cheek. "There is nothing you could ever do to make me hate you, except winning the house cup," she teased.

***

Hermione followed Professor McGonagall nervously into the Headmaster's office. What had she done, besides failing her last test, she thought bitterly. Her head so ached so much all the time, she couldn't concentrate, couldn't think.

Since her bathroom fiasco, everyone had been avoiding her. Even Ron and Harry had seemed uneasy around her, though she was grateful they didn't ask her why over and over like Lavender and Parvati had. She had been surprised that Professor McGonagall had not questioned her about her behavior, but had only asked her to promise that she would never do anything like that again. Hermione had promised, noting the tears in McGonagall's eyes, feeling bad that she had pained the older woman who was so dear to her. The only thing Hermione knew was that everyone would hate her; despise her, if they found out about her.

"Ah Minerva, Miss Granger," Dumbledore greeted them warmly, "sit, sit. Would either of you like some tea or a lemon drop?" He smiled kindly at Hermione who only shook her head as she sat gingerly on the edge of a chair.

"Well then, I assume you are wondering why I called you here Miss Granger."

She nodded, her eyes full of fear. Dumbledore flinched, never had he seen a student look at him so. "Professor Snape," he motioned with his hand as Severus emerged from the corner of a room, "has explained to me that when you fell in his classroom that day, that he is concerned that some of the potion that had spilled on the floor was accidentally trapped within the wound you sustained." The ruse flowed effortlessly from his mouth. "As a precaution he has prepared a antidote against this so no problems will arise."

Severus grimaced. The old Hermione Granger would have asked questions, wanting to know why it had taken so long for them to think of this. Now she sat there quietly, accepting the Headmaster's words as truth.

Relief flowed over Hermione. She hadn't done anything wrong this time, she was always so wrong anymore.

"As it is a newly invented antidote, we felt it best to administer it here in case there are any side effects and also to observe."

McGonagall swallowed hard and looked at Albus.

"Do you agree to take the potion Professor Snape has prepared?"

"Yes of course Headmaster."

Snape poured some liquid from a small green vial into a glass and handed it to her. "It shouldn't take long to take effect," he said quietly, though the words were directed at Albus and Minerva.

Hermione took the glass and downed it quickly. A strange feeling flooded over her, as if she were drifting away from her body. It wasn't scary though she thought, it was almost peaceful.

Snape pulled her chin up and looked into her eyes. "She is ready," he said.

"Begin then please Severus," Albus said, moving to sit next to Minerva, taking her hand in his.

"Tell me your name."

"Hermione Marie Granger."

"Do you know who I am?"

"Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts."

"Tell me Hermione, did you go home during Christmas break?"

"Yes, but I didn't stay long."

"Why?"

"He wouldn't let me."

Severus shot a look at Albus who only nodded. "Who Hermione?"

"Lucius Malfoy."