When Hermione Fights

The Death Chamber

Chapter beta: Olivia

Chapter translator: Aivy

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Panic started to rise in me, but then I suddenly felt a too familiar body pressing hard against me and my resistance was nipped in the bud.

"Sir?" I whispered questioningly into his near ear. He still wore this faceless, scary dark iron mask and hood, skilfully shielding me from what was happening in the arena.

All I heard was Neville screaming inhumanly loud. His cries of agony mixed with the mad laugh of his tormentor; the splendidly amused Lestrange cackled like crazy. The sounds reminded me of the time I tortured Pansy. Poor Neville, the same fate as his parents; and I knew Lestrange's Cruciatus Curse would feel different than mine.

I heard Malfoy barking instructions at the remaining Death Eaters, Greengrass and Rabastan Lestrange, as well as Dolohov, who had emerged from the Space Chamber. Harry continued to stubbornly refuse to give up the orb, despite all the threats.

"Let me pass, I have to-" I rebelled, pressing against Snape's unyielding chest, struggling against his hard, painful grip. He reacted very resolutely, grabbing both my wrists, squeezing violently, and growling furiously.

"Hold still or I'll hurt you!" he whispered threateningly. I looked at him, at a loss for words and breathed heavily. Being so close to him after what had happened back then was hard! Suddenly, I heard the rushing of my blood in my ears and tried to swallow that defenceless feeling when I didn't manage to fend him off. Somehow he made me weak, a condition that worried me!

"What... What do you plan to do, sir?" I breathed resentfully, glaring, and I certainly didn't hold still, causing him to press closer and closer to me until I felt him completely.

"Dammit, hold still... The others are coming soon!" he hissed, quietly commanding me and with a trace of impatience in his voice.

"But I have to!" I didn't listen to him and yanked desperately to get my hands free.

"You do not have to do anything. Bellatrix is out of control. Draco would never forgive me if something happens to you and Lucius probably as well! So stay here, understood? It has cost Lucius enough attention to make sure Potter and the orb are not forcibly attacked by these idiots! Stop resisting, because I will force you if you do not hold still. Stop fidgeting like that!" The words were muffled by his mask, but you could tell he was nearing the end of his patience "Be patient! The others will arrive soon..."

"The others? Why are you here then?" I whispered excitedly and looked at him intently while keeping myself a little more still after this revelation.

"Well, what do you think?" the counter-question dripped venomously from his tongue and I thought I could tell he was rolling his eyes, annoyed. Because of me? He had tagged along with the Death Eaters because of me? Was that the reason why I had encountered only Nott in the Hall of Prophecy? And why only two Death Eaters had come through the shortly open door to the Space Chamber before it had slammed shut?

"The Order? What are they planning?" I asked immediately very controlled, while he didn't away from me even a little bit.

"As soon as the Order arrives, I will be gone!" he prophesied calmly. "What happened up until now? Are you seriously injured?" he asked further and I was too perplexed to answer when he put his hand to my bloody cheek. I had to have small fragments stuck everywhere. Luckily, I had closed my eyes during the explosion; if the slivers had got into my eyes... But what was up with Snape? He was so tender, that was just not his style!

"Yes, a bit - but not much! Jugson did that, or whatever the guy's name is ... or rather 'was'," I admitted with a stammer to then lose my voice as I thought that Jugson was now already the third death to my name. I shouldn't even start to count; in the end, I would surely not like the number!