She Is Made Of Gold |Hermione Poly Fic| Book 2

Chapter Fourteen

Hermione

She breathed through her nose, the smell of mold flooding her senses. This was the first time she had breached the basement of her house and was appalled to smell this condition. "Severus," she called and at once his shiny black hair appeared from the doorway on the other side of the room.

She narrowed her eyes,"Supper, is ready." Her tone was suddenly icey as she noticed a bottle of gin on the table. He emerged fully from the back room, plucking up the bottle, and swigging the rest of the contents. He was in a foul mood now, his own eyes thin and focused on this insufferable girl.

"Don't take that tone with me witch," he hissed, though he played it off with laughter at the hurt in her eyes. She shivered at the draft that blew in through the poorly sealed window.

"I'll have Viktor fix that window tomorrow," she whispered, "and i'll leave your plate in the microwave."

Trudging up the steps she informed the others that she was going to sleep, as she was tired and hadn't been feeling well.

That was the first night that Hermione had used her spare room. Slept in it at least.

Viktor slipped in the room, late in the night. She hadn't undressed herself, and hadn't even bothered taking off her makeup. It was smudged on her cheeks.

"Why can't I help him, Viktor, what am I doing wrong?" She asked tearfully, throwing herself into the arms of the large man. He didn't know what to say and gathered her up onto his chest.

"Is not your fault," he said suddenly, "He doesn't like to be helped. I am under the impression that most men do not like it. He is stubborn, and will come around. He just needs a steady hand forcing him into it. I will do this. He will come for help."

Though she wasn't quite trusting of Viktor's idea of a 'gentle nudge', she nodded and nuzzled her head into his neck. When she awoke the next morning, Viktor was gone. There was a note on her vanity. She smiled at his blocky scrawl.

Mia,

Gentle nudge in progress. Draco is with me. Present in the living room for you.

-Viktor

The quiet house was empty without the noise them. She slipped down the steps and through the kitchen. The living room was filled with flower and other plants. Neville and Luna sat on the couch softly discussing creatures.

"Oh hello Hermione," Neville chirped, moving to stand. She stopped him and sat down in her reading chair.

Luna smiled, "Mione, your men are very strange. Though Our Professor seemed in a tizzy."

Hermione took strange as a compliment from Luna," Yes we are having some what of a dispute over his drinking habits."

Luna thought for a moment, beckoning the cat to her. The cat came with little persuasion, rubbing against her pale legs. "Perhaps the nargles are flooding his brain. I could check for you."

"No, Luna, it's perfectly fine." Though Hermione loved the girl she was sometimes exasperated by her. "Could I be alone me for a while?"

The couple took their que to leave, hugging her on their way out the door.

She ended up falling asleep, a heavy tome in her lap. She awoke when she heard the door slam. She got up when she heard frantic muttering. Then the packing noise of a punch and someone slamming into a wall

She rushed to the entrance and saw them. Viktor was holding up Severus by the shirt, whispering angrily in Bulgarian.

"Hit me again, I put you in ground," he hissed, letting go and rubbing his eye, his lip was split.

"You sick your dog on me, girl," he asked, seething and moving out of the "dog's" reach. She shook her head. He crossed the floor to her in matter of seconds, "You are not my mother, and are not yet my wife. I will drink until my liver bursts and you can't stop me. "

She grabbed him by the coat, adrenaline rush making her strong enough to pull him down to her face. She kissed him. "Do not bring yourself death quicker then need be. You're right I can't stop you, but you have been nearly dead at my feet once before, not again. Please. Severus, don't break my heart again."

He was dumbfounded. She was a clever thing, and poetic it seemed. He touched his mouth when she turned to sit in her chair for a moment. Draco shot him a dirty look and went to her.

He got on his knees, laying his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his silky hair, tears coming from her eyes like little crystals.

Viktor went too, shoving past the oldest man.

Severus was left in th entrance, staring at the shadows his family made on the wall. Family. That's why he felt bad. Because he loved them. His concept of love had been so jaded until now that he didn't know how much this hurt them. Now he saw it. Hermione's desperate plea made him slip down to his knees, gripping the door frame.