Love Potion

Bellatrix and Lucius

"...yeah, I've noticed that too! Do you think he's okay?"

"Well, this is the thirteenth anniversary for... her death, you know?"

"Who's death? And what does it matter to him, anyway?"

"You don't know! He was in love with Lily Potter, bless her soul, even after she married James!"

"Seriously?"

The gossip was swirling.

Why was Professor Snape acting so funny? Where did he disappear to after classes? He had been with the Dark Lord before; was there something sinister going on now? Strange looks followed Severus everywhere he went, so he stopped going out, except for classes.

And, of course, meeting up with Hermione.

One particular meeting had been planned to be in the rose garden. Severus had found his way to the park bench without being too scratched up, and was just waiting for Hermione. He sighed and sat down.

"So this is where he disappears to every day," a cold drawl startled him out of his thoughts.

Severus turned, his heart icing over. "What?! How- what are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"Just seeing my old friend, Severus," he said, his lips barely parting. "Don't even wonder how I got in, we both know the Dark Lord has powers to undo all enchantments."

"Lucius, you have to leave."

Lucius Malfoy tsk-ed. "Mm, even after I go to all the trouble to get here?"

"You- have- to- LEAVE."

"If you're worried about you little Lolita- don't. I've taken care of her."

His eyes widened. He pulled out his wand and jabbed it at Lucius. "WHAT have you DONE to her?!" he gasped.

Lucius sneered and pulled out his own wand. "Oh, can it, Severus. Bellatrix won't hurt her... probably."

"How many... did you bring?" he asked.

"Me, Bella- that's it. We're the strongest. But we all know how loyal you are, Severus, the double agent. Who's to say who you are really? I personally wouldn't trust you as far as I can throw you- which isn't far, judging by the paunch I see you've developed. But, if you do betray us, and I know you will, we're too strong to fall. Don't worry." He sneered again.

"Just- release her, and I'll do whatever you want! Please, Lucius! Don't hurt her!"

"Ah, a soft spot for the little thing. I'm disgusted with you, chasing a student. A mudblood, no less! But you've always had a thing for the mudbloods, no? Even that little redheaded girl... what was her name?"

"SHUT UP!" he yelled, and he punched furiously at Lucius. He ducked, and sneered again.

"That's right. Lily, wasn't it? But we killed her, Severus. I heard her die. I was there, you know? I watched her die; watched the life drain from her eyes," he sneered at Severus. "And I watched you cry over her, you know? I saw your pitiful little moment with her. Pathetic."

"AVADA-"

"Ah, ah, ah... you know the rules. You kill me, His Lord will kill you, and probably that mudblood too. Yes, he knows about your disgusting little romance." He pointed his wand at Severus, and muttered some sort of curse to put him out.

Severus collapsed. "Just... don't... hurt... her..." was all he could manage before he blacked out.

XXX

Meanwhile, Bellatrix had it out on poor Hermione.

"Let- me- go!" she squirmed in the curse.

Bellatrix cackled. "Right! As soon as Lucius has Severus, we're going to kill you. Sorry, baby, but that's just how it goes!"

"SEVERUS! NO!" Hermione sobbed and struggled against the bonds that held her. Bellatrix just cackled and flicked her wand, and Hermione fell silent. She tried to scream but her voice was gone. She could only struggle. The blood from the cut on her cheek bled onto her robes.

"Stop wiggling, child! It only makes it worse!" Bellatrix giggled.

Suddenly, Lucius, holding an unconscious Severus in a similar hold that Bellatrix had Hermione with, appeared.

"Bella, could you get her to stop moving? She's going to attract some sort of attention."

Bellatrix laughed again. "But it's so fun, watching her squirm!"

Lucius sighed. "Fine. Just don't get us caught."

"No problem!" she cackled.

Hermione immediately stopped squirming and glared defiantly at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix just laughed and pulled Hermione along. What she didn't see was Hermione's hands, sliding down her legs, slowly, until they reached her socks. She pulled her wand out silently, and clutched it behind her back where they couldn't see it.

"Aww... why'd you stop? Please struggle! Please?" pleaded Bella. "No? Will you scream, then? Will you scream if I give you your voice back? Just once? I love the sound of torture!"

Hermione opened her mouth and "tried" to scream, as if to prove her point. Bella laughed and flicked her wand.

"Confundus!" Hermione screamed. Bella's eyes glazed over, and she stopped giggling. Lucius did too, and Severus dropped to the ground in a heap.

"Stupify!" she cried, and both opponents collapsed.

Severus coughed weakly. "Sev!" she cried, running toward him. She knelt down next to him and stroked his ckeek tenderly.

"Hermione..." he moaned. "I'm so... sorry." he coughed gently. "It's my fault..."

"No! Don't blame yourself, Severus! It's not your fault, those creeps just... it's fine, Sev... it's all over now."

She helped him stand, and with her as a crutch, they struggled towards the Hogwarts castle.