Damaged Goods

Damaged Goods

Part 8

Hermione sat at the table picking at her dinner, half listening to the boys around her talk excitedly about the upcoming Quidditch match this weekend. The Weasley twins, Harry and Ron were talking animatedly, going over the plays of their last game against Ravenclaw.

She couldn't blame them for their enthusiasm over the game. Quidditch had been cancelled last year due to the Triwizard Tournament and they were making up for it with gusto. It was Ron's first year on the team, filling in as beater as Fred Weasley had moved to take over Oliver Wood's spot of keeper.

"We are going to run over Slytherin," the twins said excitedly

"They don't have a chance," agreed Ron

"Wonder if Snape will even show up to witness his house's downfall?" George asked, grinning.

Harry caught Hermione's eye from across the table. They knew that Professor Snape was only absent because he had been called by Voldemort. The students had not seen him since potions class last Friday and it was Wednesday now.

Harry turned his attention back to the other team members as Hermione began playing absentmindly with a knife that lay among the silverware. The metal glinted as she rolled it on the table. Staring at it she picked it up, her thoughts turning inward. Professor Snape had gone to Voldemort, Voldemort and his Death Eaters, Death Eaters, Lucius.....

He rolled off me, panting. I pulled away; glad for the extra room to do so. He had transformed the small cot in my cell into a large canopy bed when he came to me now. It took up most of the small area. In a small way I looked forward to this, to lie upon the soft satiny sheets, the curtains drawn around the bed to keep the warmth in, the only time I felt warm. I wished at first for the darkness to hide his face but he had always enchanted a pale light to fill the interior of the bed.

Lucius chuckled as he lay there. "I do believe Hermione, that it would be very easy to persuade you into the darkness." I didn't answer, just lying there, hoping he would leave soon, ashamed of my reactions to his rough treatment of me.

"Look at me," he instructed and I obeyed. I saw the glint of metal in his hand and cringed. Please I begged but he gave me such a strange look that I hushed. "Yes," he said, a sly grin on his face, "I do believe you will enjoy this."

I wanted to pull away but watched horrified as he gripped the knife, and was astonished to see him cut his chest with it. Two long, shallow cuts, which oozed blood. "Taste it," he instructed. My mind protested but I knew I would obey. I tentatively placed my mouth against the wound and sucked in a little of his blood. It tasted of metal and sweat. "Its good isn't it girl?" he asked, his mouth close to my ear. "To taste the blood of a purebred wizard, something you can never be" He pushed me away.

Leaning over me, he mimicked the cuts on my chest, I flinched as I felt the blade slide across my skin. "Not too deep, just enough to bring the blood," he said, though he wasn't really speaking to me. "The line between pleasure and pain, mudblood is fragile just as it is between hate and love." He moved lower to my stomach and slashed several cuts there, as I cried out as that sensitive area screamed in protest.

"Did that hurt, Hermione?" Yes I told him. "Good," his voice was husky, "feel the hurt, embrace it, then give over to the pleasure." He continued marking my skin, across my hips, my inner thighs, the sides of my calves. Tears ran down my cheeks from the pain as he sliced my skin. Then he started sucking at the wounds that were dripping blood across my skin, making little rivers of crimson. I shuddered as I felt his mouth cross the areas his knife had cut, and god forgive me, I shuddered as the pain melted and merged into a burning yearning between my legs. Lucius laughed as he heard me moan and came over me savagely, his assault on me stinging the fresh wounds, as the salt from his sweat burned.

Hermione jerked and dropped the knife she had been holding. It bounced off the table and rolled under it. She got out of her chair, crawling beneath the table to retrieve it, though she knew the house elves would get it, she didn't want anyone waiting on her. Crawling forward a little, she picked up the knife and stared at it.

Ron had noticed Hermione slip under the table grumbling about being clumsy. He hadn't really paid attention to her during dinner, caught up with the Quidditich talk, but when she didn't appear after a few minutes, he frowned, wondering what she was still doing under the table.

"Hermione? He called bending over to look under the table. "You get stuck or..." He froze, staring at her. She looked at him, her eyes wide and frightened, the knife poised above her thigh. Her robes were hiked up to her waist her skirt bunched up. Several bloody stripes ran up from her knee to her inner thigh.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!" She jerked upright, his shout scaring her and she struck her head hard on the underside of the table. The Gryffindor table quieted, eyes turning to look toward Ron, who was still bending down, looking under the table. Others in the dining hall craned their necks to see what was happening. A few snickered.

Hermione scrambled out from other the table her face paled as she saw Professor McGonagall standing behind Ron, her lips thin and tight.. "Weasley, Granger, follow me." Sniggering broke out around the room as they realized that a girl had been under the table when Weasley had bellowed.

****

Hermione lay in the hospital bed, grimacing at the looks Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were giving her. The wounds on her legs were shallow and were quickly mended by Madame Pomfrey, however she and Professor McGonagall had insisted she undress and get into bed. Professor McGonagall had left to get the Headmaster while Hermione worried.

She had not planned on cutting herself, there in the dining hall. Not that it hadn't been the first time she had released the pain she was feeling in that manner.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said gravely, his face set. "Madame Pomfrey has informed me that this incident was not a first, is that correct?'

She nodded her head.

"You must understand that if this happens again I will have no choice but to contact your parents. This is serious Miss Granger, I realize you have been through a terrible ordeal, but we cannot allow you to continue harming yourself."

"I understand," Hermione murmured, tears falling freely. She brushed at them angrily, why did she always have to cry? "Please, don't tell my parents, I couldn't bear it." I can't bear the thoughts of even seeing them again, she thought.

Dumbledore's face softened though his voice was still grave. "Let this be that last incident of this nature Miss Granger. If you need to talk we will always be willing to listen and help in whatever way we can."

"Thank you Headmaster," she sniffed, truly grateful he had not told her parents already.

"You will stay here tonight Miss Granger," Minerva told her, her voice firm. "You may return to classes in the morning."

Hermione nodded as Professor McGonagall patted her hand before leaving with Dumbledore.

That little touch of kindness sent fresh tears into her eyes and she cried softly, thankful that the hospital wing, to her knowledge, was empty.

****

In the far corner of the hospital wing, behind the drawn curtains, Severus laid in the bed listening to the exchange. His heart went out to Hermione, not fully understanding what it was about the little- pain- in -the -ass that tugged at him. Though he had stopped Draco from abusing her, he didn't know how he could stop her from abusing herself.

But then again, he couldn't even help himself...

He had Apparated Saturday evening when the mark had burned his skin. Voldemort's current hideout was a crumbling manor on a barren shore of Scotland. The cool sea breeze caressed his face as he appeared and he felt the dampness of rain approaching. There were several pops around him and more Death Eaters joined him.

"Ah Severus", Lucius drawling voice greeted him. "So glad you could make it for a change."

"Really Lucius," Severus said sarcastically, his voice dripping with feigned sweetness, "I miss one meeting and I am forever labeled as unworthy. If the master can forgive surely you can, unless," he let the words slide silkily off his tongue, "you fancy that you are above the Dark Lord on these matters."

"Too obvious," Lucius said, his voice low and menacing. "You are slipping Severus, getting soft hanging around that Muggle lover."

They entered the manor together, moving into a large room where the circle of Death Eaters stood, each in their respective positions. Severus was glad that the flat, stark white masks had been removed. That meant that this wasn't a meeting of going out to reek havoc and death, but a planning meeting, or rather a 'damning' meeting.

"Ah good, we are all here now," Voldemort's high sharp voice rang out, echoing in the empty halls of the keep. "Wormtail if you would."

Peter Pettigrew stepped forward and read from a scroll the minutes of the previous planning meeting. Severus thought he would laugh. How civilized, he thought dryly.

"So my Death Eaters, you have been refreshed on matters of the previous meeting, of the things we had planned to accomplish. And what exactly have we accomplished Wormtail?"

Peter paled, and his voiced squeaked, "a few of the plans have been successful milord...."

"A few? Did I hear you right Wormtail? A few?"

"Yes milord, the raid on the ..."

"Silence! I do not need a retelling of things that are known to me you fool. What I do want to know is why there is only 'a few' instead of all". His red eyes stared at each Death Eater in the circle. Many bowed their heads, ashamed. Severus stared back, first mistake he thought, but wasn't in the mood to lower his eyes now.

"Crabbe, Goyle!" Voldemort turned his face to the two large men who hung their heads. "Why didn't you complete your simple assignment? All I asked was that you retrieve some confiscated items from the Ministry".

"Forgive us milord," Crabbe mumbled, "we arrived at the Ministry as planned and found the room, but.."

"Accidentally set off the alarm didn't you?' Voldemort finished for him.

"Yes milord."

"Not only do you lack brains but it would seem grace," Voldemort moved to stand before the two men who had sunk to their knees.

"Forgive us"

"Wormtail, please show these fools how I forgive."

Approaching the two, Peter pulled out his wand.

"Cruccio,"

Crabbe and Goyle writhed and sobbed as the curse was placed on them.

"Enough," Voldemort said, "we need not damage what little minds they possess. I trust you will do better this time."

"Yes milord," they said in unison, their voices quivering.

This continued around the circle, as each Death Eater had in someway not fulfilled their participation in the eyes of Voldemort. Other Death Eaters were called forward to cast spells upon them, the Cruciatus being the most favored.

Severus prepared himself mentally as the circle faded, Voldemort sending each Death Eater away after punishment was fulfilled and instructions given. He knew that the Dark Lord always saved 'the best for last'; the worst forms of twisted pain for those he chose to bestow it on. Severus was often one of the last to leave, Voldemort punishing him heartily for being a turncoat sixteen years ago. He was surprised that Malfoy still stood in the circle. Lucius was often the first ones to go, always pleasing his master above and beyond what was asked of him.

Soon there was only Lucius and himself before Voldemort and the ever-cowering Wormtail.

"Concerned Severus?" Voldemort asked, his voice smug with a hint of laughter.

"No milord."

"Well you should be, you should be," he said, moving over to stand before Severus. A long pale finger, reached out to trace a line down Severus' face. Severus lowered his eyes, in mock reverence.

Voldemort pulled away giving a high sharp laugh. "Severus my boy, for once I am not disappointed in you. Your latest report about Hogwarts and that fool headmaster actually proved to be quite interesting."

Severus was confused. His reports about Hogwarts and Dumbledore were deathly boring. "Thank you milord."

"You do know who our enemies are, the Muggleborn who have tainted the Wizarding world and those who support their intermingling with us?" Voldemort addressed the three.

"Yes milord," they said in unison.

"That is where we must start and finish this time .Oh yes I was a bit foolish, a bit hasty before, trying to move too fast through the Wizarding world, thinking if I removed all those who opposed me the little mudbloods and half breeds wouldn't stand a chance. Make no mistake; the Wizarding world will fall to me, but this time we will move slowly.

"Yes milord."

"Which is why I was so interested in your report of Hogwarts. Severus. The sorting of the students, how many pure wizards are still left. I did not recognize very many names of pure line in that damn school."

"No milord," Severus said, understanding now.

"I think we shall start with those who sully our world the most. The ones who are born to Muggles and for some damned reason have been gifted with magic a thing that should never be. I want a list Severus, of each mudblood in that school. I will give you a rare treat of putting the name at the top who we will destroy first."

"Yes milord, I am honored." Severus said, not believing for one moment he would be the one to choose which family was to die first.

"Of course we cannot touch the little darlings while they are at Hogwarts under that idiot's watchful eye, but if they had nothing to go home to, no where to go when term ends, that will be a successful start. And it would ensure that no more mudbloods will be born to those Muggles."

"Brilliant milord," Lucius said.

"Lucius."

"Yes milord."

"I am in the mood for some entertainment if you would, and you Severus." Voldemort settled himself in an oversized armchair, Wormtail hurrying to kneel at his feet.

Severus closed his eyes briefly, as he removed his cloak and began unbuttoning his shirt. Entertainment indeed, he thought bitterly. Perversion, like everything about Voldemort, his very existence, the blood red eyes, the flat snake like face, his thirst for power, his 'entertainment'.

Opening his eyes he saw that Lucius had removed his clothing, waiting for Severus to finish. As he stepped out of his clothes, Severus moved to kneel before Lucius.

"Severus," Voldemort's voice stopped him.

"Yes milord."

"I said I was pleased with you."

Severus straightened up and had a brief moment of satisfaction as Lucius glared at him as he knelt before him.

The only small bit of solace Severus could find as the two men 'performed' before Voldemort, who had Wormtail satisfying his own need, was that the dark lord no longer sought him out for his own personal gratification as he had before he had fallen. It was enough punishment for the two men who hated each other vehemently to become locked together as lovers during this time of 'entertainment'. Severus recited the steps to a difficult potion, removing his mind from what his body was doing and what was being done to it.

Dressed and standing before Voldemort now, Severus waited for leave to go. "I do believe," Voldemort said eyeing the two men, that Severus didn't enjoy entertaining me do you Lucius?"

"No milord," Lucius said a sly smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He had been put out for not being the dominant one in this scenario, his usual place.

"You want to punish him for that don't you Lucius?" Voldemort voice was soft, mocking.

"Yes milord, very much."

"Then do so."

Severus stared Lucius in the eyes, as the man pulled out his wand.

"Crucio."

Lucius had put him under the Cruciatus four times before Voldemort had stopped him. Severus lay on the floor jerking; small whimpers coming from his traitorous throat, his stoic silence broken.

"Well done Lucius," Voldemort said smoothly coming to stand over Severus. " We mustn't let the turn coat forget who his master is shall we?"

"No milord."

"Wormtail."

"Yes milord." Peter hurried over to stand beside him, bowing.

"Please use that wonderful hand that I gave you and break his ribs and whatever else you think needs broken, then return him to that bloody school."

Severus had withstood the pain as Wormtail used his silver hand to break each finger on both hands, then the wrists. When his shoulders were dislodged he felt the blackness at the back of his eyes and knew he couldn't last much longer, his body already weak from the Cruciatus. Praying silently that Wormtail would accidentally take his task too far, to give Severus the peace of death, he blacked out as he felt the hand slam into his side, his ribs cracking.

Hagrid's boarhound Fang, had discovered Severus' broken body lying at the edge of the forbidden forest the next morning, Dumbledore had told him, his eyes suspiciously bright as he looked at Severus. Madam Pomfrey had healed his broken bones and had assured him there were no internal injuries. The effects of the Cruciatus however stilled weakened him, his muscles jerking, pain shooting through his insides, that caused him to retch. Dumbledore had ordered him to stay in the hospital wing until he was satisfied that Severus would be all right.

Indeed, Severus thought sarcastically, listening to Hermione cry softly, how can I help anyone?