Bonded to her

Chapter 15

The sound of my hand slapping her reverberated in the otherwise empty hall and I felt shock go through my body.

It hadn't been a playful slap, I had been so angry I couldn't stop myself. The moment I hit her I felt regret, but she was gone in a split second.

"Hermione, wait!" I called after her trying to follow her, but she was gone.

My mind flashed back to my childhood and I felt shame realizing I had become everything I hated, everything I resented.

I was seven eating a small snack in a corner of my room trying to remain unnoticed. I had been starving and my mother had forgotten to feed me yet again so I had stolen the crackers.

I could hear his footsteps coming and I hid the food as fast as possible, but it was too late.

"You fucking IMBECILE! You thief! How dare you steal AGAIN?" My father roared picking me up by my collar despite my shrieks of terror, shaking me roughly.

"I..I was just..."

"Just what? Just NOTHING. You want to steal? I will show you what happened to thief's!" His hand hit my face before I could duck to protect myself, his full force leaving a large bruise instantly. I covered my face with my hands begging him to stop so he punched my stomach next pushing the air out of my lungs.

"What are you doing?" My mother said coming in waking from her endless lines of naps. I felt a bit of relief. She would protect me at least. She looked at me and was horrified.

"Drop him now!" She demanded. I didn't remember what they screamed at each other next, but within seconds my fathers fist made its way to her face and she crumpled up defeated on the floor.

"Bitch, instead of sitting there crying, why don't you teach your child how to behave!" My father snarled, giving her another kick just for emphasis before taking the crackers and leaving, stomping with every step.

"I'm sorry." I told her hating to see her cry. I didn't want her to be hurt. No one should hit their wife like that. She looked back at me with contempt through the tears.

"Why can't you just not anger him Severus?" She said accusingly. I started to cry with my own guilt and she gave me one last glare before picking herself up and leaving me sobbing alone.

That moment I promised myself I would never hit my child or wife. I would never hurt someone like he hurt us. I would be better than him.

I walked outside , the weight of my actions filling me with regret. I would do anything to make it up to her.

It was snowing fast and furious and I could barely see a foot in front of me in the darkness. I had no idea if she had gotten through the long walk from the gates or not to leave, or if she was lost somewhere here.

Where are you?

There was no response. I put a heating charm on myself while I looked, but I didn't see her anywhere. The snow was piling up fast and I struggled to walk through the thick snow banks.

Please tell me where you are at. I'm sorry.

I expected silence again, but after a moment I got her reply feeling a rush of relief with it.

Trees.

There were countless trees on my property, but I headed towards them looking for her in their midst.

After what felt like forever I found her sitting at the base of an apple tree, slumped over and blue from the cold.

"Fuck, Hermione!" I ran the rest of the distance to her and picked her up. She was limp and lifeless. I whispered the incantation for hot air and let the air hover over her slowly warming her as I rushed to the gates.