The Power of Pain

Chapter 36

The carriage ride had been mostly uneventful. After Hermione had stopped looking out into the world with wonder, the height at which they climbed making her queasy, they discussed their current theories. By the time they had come to land they had formulated a sort of division of labor. Snape would focus on a way to open the curse lines, safely. While Hermione was tasked with dismantling the vault. As the feeling of descent rolled through the carriage they neatly packed away the notes they'd pulled from Snape's satchel.

Hermione turned looking out at the grounds as the carriage finally landed. Her breathing was becoming excited. She swallowed thickly as she looked up at the front of the Manor. Her face twitching as the sound of dragged footsteps on gravel ghosted through her mind.

Something hard was forming in her stomach as she climbed out. Her eyes uncharacteristically large when she turned looking up and down the drive. It felt as though she wasn't seeing it in real time. The sky was much darker like someone had overlayed a film on the sun. Her teeth ground as she felt frozen in place staring at the large iron gates. She didn't want to be there. She didn't want to be there at all.

Snape paused when he didn't hear a second set of footsteps behind him. Turning on his heel he searched, his eyes found her very impressive impression of a statue a few steps to the side the carriage. He looked beyond her to where she was transfixed. Sighing, he stepped around breaking her gaze, he watched her eyes snap to him as if breaking from a trance.

"Are you planning on becoming a permanent fixture or are you interested in finding a solution to your problem?"

She sneered, it was a very admirable impression of him and she dragged her head towards the entrance where Draco was waiting, hands in his pockets. Her feet jerked as if she were pulling against a sticking charm before she strode ahead towards Draco. His eyes narrowed slightly giving a last glance to the gates before following after her. Draco let them inside keeping a few paces ahead of Granger's stiff walk.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor." His voice drawled echoing around the space. "The east wing is the library and kitchens." He was looking at Granger who had gone very still again. "The west wing and upper floors are off-limits. There isn't much to see anyway. Most everything has been placed in the underground storage." He looked up as Snape came to shadow her.

Severus knew very well the layout and just exactly was hidden away. He did take note that anything that hadn't yet been moved was covered with a white sheet. He turned to follow Draco as he spoke. The young man moving around Granger, immediately updating the elder man on his success and failures at dismantling the wards and protections over the library.

Once more, their footfalls were one short. Snape turned again, a deep frown on his face. Was it going to be too much for her? The thought lightly passed over his mind as he noticed she was walking in the opposite direction, her eyes trained straight ahead on the drawing room's doors at the end of the west corridor.

Hermione felt herself being pulled towards the doors. It was like she was on autopilot, sounds met her ears, and her vision felt tilted. She couldn't stop. Her hand was about to reach the handle of the drawing-room when she felt a someone roughly grab the neck of her sweater keeping her from moving forward.

"The library is this way."

She felt herself being pulled none too gently from her goal, a noise passing her lips as she was frog marched in the opposite direction. She blinked dumbly a few times before her feet started to obey her commands. She glanced over the hand that held her as a muffled scream pierced her subconscious. She closed her eyes tight allowing herself to be guided away from the horrific sound.