Senses

Chapter 38

Hermione leaned closer to the mirror, opening her eyes wide to look at the small ring of blood that seemed to be a permanent fixture around the edges of her eyes. It was hard to see when she didn't look comically surprised but it was there. Just out of sight though never out of mind. Her fingers touched the pink baby-soft skin around the bottom, make-up would surely conceal the scar but she hadn't any to put on. She'd never been one to really think about putting on a face for the outside world but the more she looked at herself the more she wondered if it was time.

A slow breath lowered her gaze and she pulled her shirt from over her head. As she let the soft garment fall down her eyes followed. Her jaw twitched at her still lack of chest but was at least partially satisfied that she could no longer see the outline of her rib cage. In fact, she was almost pleased with the way her muscles flexed with her exaggerated breaths. Her fingers traced a long scar that wrapped from around her side over the ridges of newly formed muscle. A sharp jolt turned her world black as a flashback took over her thoughts.

Laughter echoed in her ears as her own screams vibrated in her chest. Her frozen body turning warm as the blood that was meant to sustain life, poured free. The sounds in which she heard couldn't have been real. It was far past the point where she'd lost her hearing. Yet still, she could hear their laughter at her pain. Their devilish grins as they smeared the life essence over her bare form. Their dirt covered nails tearing away at her flesh.

A harsh choke brought her back into reality and she had to brace herself on the sink to keep herself from tipping sideways. She closed her eyes tight as she forced the memory away, deeper inside. She hadn't told the Professor that she was constantly plagued with little snippets of memories, distorted and warped with time and pain. They would hit her at odd moments. She had no way to know when they would come. They lasted only seconds but they hurt just as much as they did then.

A deep breath forced her eyes open once more and she turned her steeled gaze into her own darkening eyes. She would not forget what she was fighting for. The justice that she was seeking. The debt of blood that she was owed. Yes, there was a war, and the professor was very much entangled in its web but she...she had her own battle to fight.

"Miss Granger? Do you plan on joining me in your lesson?"

Hermione jolted from the deep voice coming through the door of the closet, though she couldn't repress the urge to roll her eyes at his impatience, "Not everyone is used to multiple layers of buttons!" Her voice was light with humor lacing the tone but it quickly reminded her to get moving.

A soft snort was her response and she idly wondered if she'd made him smile, even just a little. Though she was very comfortable with his resting frown, she had begun to wonder what he would look like should he actually smile. Their humor was not so different, relying on quick wit words instead of out of taste jokes.

Severus did, in fact, grin ever just so at her small quip, though he was unaware that he'd even done so. His mind was elsewhere. It had been the Carrows who had come to speak with him that morning. Telling him to expect some possible reductions to the roster after winter term. Though it was still a month off he couldn't help the building unease. The Dark Lord had been eerily silent, something that set his teeth on edge with just how much out of the loop he was becoming.

A lot could happen in three weeks. Ironically, he was thankful that Minerva had taken to visiting the girl on the weekends—though still in her feline form—providing him with what she could about the Order and their movements. While nothing groundbreaking it did elude to the dark side making moves. The sort of lull only made him worry more. It wasn't like the Dark Lord to keep still. No, he was surely planning something grander.