"Hey! You'll pay for that Hermione!" Ron shrieked as he brushed off the remains of a snowball I had launched at his chest and bent down to scrape a pile of snow into his hands. "Don't you dare, Ronald!" I held up my hands and let out a loud squeal as he hurled the pile at my face, the freezing sensation burning at my skin. "Nice one Ron!" Harry gave him a high five and I shook the snow off before charging towards him. Before I could pounce, my boots caught a sheet of ice beneath the snow and I slid towards the red haired boy, colliding with him hard. As we hit the ground beneath us, I landed on top of his chest with an "umph!"
"Sorry!" I chuckled, hoisting myself up with my hands so my face was hovering above Ron's. His cheeks were flushed and I felt his hands reach around my waist. For a moment, my insides burned like a cosy fire and as I looked into his eyes I felt warm and safe. I'd never really looked at Ron this way before, maybe somewhat but not to this extent. "Alright Mr and Mrs Weasley, enough of that," Harry made gagging noises while shovelling a pile of snow on top of us. I squeaked as it sizzled at my face and neck, standing up and chasing after the speccy git, leaving Ronald on the floor alone.
"Harry!" I called after him but he was too quick for me so I slowed down and came to a halt, catching my breath. Ron joined me in a gentle walk to where Harry was sitting on a stone wall, laughing his socks off. "Very funny," Ron mocked, grabbing his friend into a headlock, grappling on the floor together. "I see the love birds are still at it," a voice spoke from behind me and I jumped out of my skin to see the Weasley Twins standing right behind me. My face grew hot, until I realised they weren't referring to Ron and me. "Merlin! Where did you two come from?" I punched them both playfully and they winced, rubbing their bruises. "We're of apparating age now Granger, remember," they beamed in unison and I rolled my eyes. "Well, as your mother would say, don't milk it!" I reached up and ruffled both of their hair and laughed with them.
Ron and Harry stood up, dusting the snow off their clothes and led the way to the Three Broomsticks, where we were welcomed by Madame Rosmerta. She showed us to a table and we sat down, taking off our coats. "Harry! Hello my dear boy, oop, all hands on deck, Granger!" A splash of mead hit my jeans and I glared up to Professor Slughorn who was drunk, slurring his words and struggling to stand still. "Hello Sir, good to see you!" Harry gave a small wave as the Twins came back with our drinks. I took a sip, giggling as the Professor called Ron "Wollumby" again before staggering away, his mead sloshing over the wooden floor. He had welcomed Harry and I to his Christmas dinner party; only special students of his were invited which was an honour. Ron however was less than impressed.
"What the bloody Hell was that, Harry?" Ron grumbled as he took a sip of butterbeer, looking behind him at the intoxicated man. "Dumbledore has asked me to get close to him- it must be important... if it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask." We spent the next few minutes drinking our drinks and joking about, until Harry gave a sickened expression to someone over my shoulder; by the time I glanced round, whoever it was had disappeared. "Harry?" I whispered worriedly, a little apprehensive as he rose to his feet. "Come on, let's go." The three of us left the Twins at the table and made our way out of the pub, following the snowy path back to the carriages.
A few yards later, we heard a bloodcurdling scream and a brunette girl in a black winter coat was lifted into the air by a magical force, her hair standing on its ends as though she were being electrocuted. "I warned her not to touch it!" Another girl shrieked as she turned to us. By now my heart was pounding as we sprinted to the girl in the sky, who suddenly slammed back into the snowy ground unconscious. "Stand back! Do not touch that." Hagrid commanded, rushing to the scene and picking up the girl who I could now recognise was Katie Bell, a fantastic member of the Quidditch team for Gryffindor.
*
"What do you think Severus? Is it dark magic?" Professor McGonagall muttered as a gorgeous black necklace with deep blue gemstones levitated in front of Snape, from the use of his wand. Faint shrieks and screams emitted from the necklace, sending shivers down my arms. "I think..." he mumbled slowly, rotating it slowly as he looked closer, "Miss Bell... is lucky... to be alive." Harry took a step forward, "So it was cursed? I know Katie, she wouldn't hurt anyone. It was Malfoy." He spoke confidently, his posture straight as he made his accusation. "Proof?" Snape asked, one eyebrow twitching in impatience. His eyes flickered to me and I felt my skull burning as he attempted to enter my mind. I narrowed my eyes but just as Harry spoke, his attention was on him once more: "I just know."
"You just know?" Snape mocked, insulting him for being 'oh so perfect and desirable', then spat the words, "How grand it must be... to be the Chosen One." His face remained stern and composed like a stone statue, his aura was just as ice cold as the look in his eyes. The three of us stayed silent, terrified of speaking up to the furious man in front of us. McGonagall broke the silence by dismissing us and sending us straight to the Gryffindor Tower. Harry was livid, questioning why on earth Snape was so adamant on defending Malfoy, and his questions were totally valid. If Harry believed it was Malfoy, it most likely was.
*
My whole body writhed in agony, my legs thrashing around on the floor as electric shock after electric shock coursed through me. "Stop! Please!" I screamed, my voice cracking as hot tears burned my cheeks like lava. "The Dark Lord doesn't stop," a voice hissed in my ear, so close it could've been in my head. The pain didn't subside once the curse lifted, my body jolted and quivered in the aftermath of the Cruciatus Curse. Blood dripped onto the marble floor beneath me as wide gashes covered my arms and legs. "Tell me where he is," a snake-like voice hissed and my skin burned like I was being coated in acid. "I don't know! I don't-" I screeched as I was hit by the curse once more, the blood in my veins bubbling and boiling until my body could no longer handle it - everything went black.
*
I awoke abruptly to a furious knocking on my dormitory door and before I could get out of bed, Ron had burst in. "Ronald! Get out!" I gasped, covering myself in my duvet. I paused as I noticed the look of pure horror plastered over his freckled face, and a very sweaty and pale Harry wobbling on his feet behind him. "Ron? What's going on?" I asked worriedly, scrambling out of my bed and slipping on a pair of slippers. "He had another nightmare," he spoke quietly, trying not to disturb the other girls who were beginning to stir. "We need to go and see Snape. He'll know what to do."
"Sir, something's happening," Ron spoke desperately as Professor Snape opened his door wide, his eyes scanning over my body. I was wearing only underwear and a big t-shirt that hung off my slim frame. He swallowed hard and opened the door wider to invite us in, Snape leaned down to Harry, his face level with his as he examined his face. Harry's chin was bouncing from the pain, shock, cold and fear of whatever just happened. He was mumbling indistinctive words under his breath as Ron sat him down on a chair. The look in Snape's eyes was dark and desperate as he checked Harry over, occasionally flickering over to me, who wore nothing on the bottom half of my body. I fiddled with the hem of my shirt and bit my lip, imagining all sorts of unholy things.
"Quiet your mind Granger," he snapped, a slight smirk creeping upon his lips as he stood up straight in front of Harry, who was still quivering and panting. After instructing Ron to find Dumbledore immediately, he returned his attention to Harry; His breaths were still unsteady as Snape used Legilimency on the poor boy. A white flash blinded him as he relived his dream for the sake of Snape. Once he left Harry's mind, tears were rolling down his cheeks. Harry locked his hand around mine, his sobs threatening to come out.
"Curious," Snape mumbled as he stood from his crouching position, his eyes never leaving my face. Harry and I turned to look at one another then back to the Professor. "Sorry, what is curious?" I asked, my voice laced with worry. Snape ignored my question and turned to lean against his desk on his hands. He slammed his fist onto the desk so hard it nearly collapsed, causing Harry and me to jump. The door swung open and we all turned to face Dumbledore, whose silver robes billowed behind him as he met us at the far end of the room. "Severus, what's happened?" He whispered, placing a wrinkled hand on Snape's shoulder, causing him to tense up a bit.
"It's happening. The Dark Lord has decided."
YOU ARE READING
The Mud-Blood Princess | Severus x Hermione
FanficBased on the Half Blood Prince. Hermione x Snape fanfiction.
