An Unlikely Situation (Part I of III) - A gift for pristineungift! Title: An Unlikely Situation Author:aleysiasnape Recipient:pristineungift Pairing(s): Severus/Hermione Word Count: 4,488 Rating: R Warnings: AU, EWE Summary: Hermione finds herself imprisoned in the dungeon. Who will help her survive? Author's Notes: I really hope the recipient likes my results. I really had fun writing this and many thanks goes to my betas. You know who you are! Disclaimer: I don’t own anything except the plot.
Hermione awoke to find herself in unfamiliar surroundings. Her questing fingers kept searching for her wand.
She blinked and thought back to the previous evening.
Damn it. I must remember. Frantically, she tried to recall how she’d ended up here and who had placed her in this cell. She remembered vaguely that it was one of the snatchers: Scabior.
Running a hand through her hair, her fingers stuck in the tangles. She realized her hair was in a mess. Her watch was still around her wrist when it beeped, calling her eyes to the time. The day had gone by.
I really wish I had my wand right now, she thought, exasperated, not realizing how tired she was and sat down on the hard floor in a huff. Hearing the door creak from upstairs, she scooted to the far corner wondering who was going to appear.
She thought that maybe, just maybe, those guards would be nice enough to let her out. But when the guards arrived, her facial expression turned to anguish as she recognized Severus Snape being dragged into her cell.
She had half expected him to struggle when the two masked Death Eaters dumped him in with her. "Have a nice time with the Mudblood," one of them laughed when he closed the cell door.
Her mind was having a hard time coping with the situation, when the only chance of hope was sitting, no, lying unconscious by her side was Severus Snape.
She looked apprehensively towards her former Professor. Fearing that he might be dead, she panicked a bit and walked quickly towards him. I really, really wish I had my wand. Despair rose inside of her as she bent down to check on him.
She laid a hand on his shoulder. Her hand moved upwards towards his neck, seeking a pulse. Finding one, though faint, throbbing underneath her fingertip.
Sighing in relief, she plopped down next to Snape, gently placing his head in her lap and brushing some hair away from his forehead. His mouth was slightly open; she hovered her hand over his lips and nose feeling air. Good, he might be out of it for awhile.
Making themselves comfortable. It was the best she could do in the dungeon.
Five minutes later she heard, "Uncle Severus? Shit, it’s too dark down here." Draco Malfoy muttered irately as he lit his wand, levitating a try of food and drink behind him.
He wasn’t expecting to find anyone else down in the dungeons along with Severus. Draco was in shock at seeing one of his classmates in the cell. He was curious as to how she got here.
"Ferret, what are you doing down here? I thought you were forbidden to come down here," she hissed angrily. The trio had heard rumors that Voldermort was in control of Malfoy Manor and that the Malfoy family had no control over what was happening in their own home.
She was surprised to see him down here. No doubt worried for Headmaster Snape.
"I want out as much as you do, Granger," Draco hissed back as he opened the door and walked in, seeing that Severus Snape was still out cold. "Here, I have food, water, and medicine for him. They put him under the Cruciatius.
"I didn’t know you were here. What happened? I thought you were with Potty and Weasel." Draco stared at Hermione. He was now troubled about how she came to Malfoy Manor.
He watched as Hermione used the last of her drinking water to bathe the still unconscious man's face.
He was worried for them both. And he hated that the Dark Lord had taken over his home, making his parents cower in fear. Standing up, she brushed the dirt off her jeans and walked up to him.
"I got separated from them. Scabior found me and brought me here, dumping me in this dungeon." Hermione sounded exhausted. Hoping that Draco would find a way to get them out of this dank cell without getting them killed in the process.
"Bugger, he was supposed to tell the elves about new prisoners, and they’ve been telling me." Draco shook his head in disbelief. He thought he had made sure he could help any that were trapped in his home, despite their living situations, knowing that his father had made a bad choice.
"Well the guards knew I was down here," Hermione replied in an exhausted whisper to him, holding on to the cell bars. "What are you going to do about it, Malfoy? They will have you killed if you help me."
Draco ran his hand through his blond hair, feeling frustrated. "I don’t know. All I know is I want this mess over and my parents safe. I must head back up. I will come and check on the both of you when I can."
Hermione watched Draco leave until she couldn’t see him anymore and then turned around.
She definitely was worried about Snape, seeing that he wasn’t aroused by the talking. Taking his pulse again, seeing that it was a strong one underneath her fingertips, all she had to do was sit and wait for him to wake up.
I wonder how long are they going to leave me down here, she thought apprehensively, wondering if Draco was going to tell his father about her. Severus moaned as he lolled his head around, startling Hermione in the process. She had fallen asleep. He forced his eyelids to open as he blinked and saw a vision of beauty.
"You are beautiful whoever you are," Severus slurred a bit as she stared unbelievingly at him. He couldn’t recognize who this person was, but he was grateful that he wasn’t alone.
He must be insane. They held him under the Cruciatus for too long. She grimaced inwardly knowing that she must look like a fright instead of being beautiful.
Speaking softly to him, she pushed some hair away from his eyes. "Sir, it’s me, Hermione Granger." Severus blinked as he glanced at her again. "Miss Granger? What are you doing here?" He groaned as he managed to sit himself up leaning back on the wall.
"I got separated from the boys. Scabior found me and brought me here. Draco knows I’m here now."
Severus turned his head towards her, wincing a bit, his neck feeling stiff. "What? They didn’t know you were down here?"
"No, sir, they didn’t. But the guards knew and they neglected to inform them. It seems that he was surprised about them not knowing."
Severus groaned again as he tried to straighten out his legs. They felt like pins and needles as they had fallen asleep. "It appears Lucius is losing control of things. And he doesn’t like anyone trying to take over his home."
"Sir, what is he going to do about it?" Hermione whispered worriedly to Severus.
He looked at her, speaking gently, "He’s going to try not to get himself or his family killed. And I’m in no hurry to face the Dark Lord again."
*
Draco stormed into his father’s study, watching his father take another long gulp of Firewhisky.
He is in no condition to help Uncle Severus. His wand has been taken, snapped by that madman and our home is over run with Death Eaters, Draco thought in disgust at what his home had become.
"Father, a word if you please," Draco calmly spoke to Lucius as he watched him place the wine goblet on his desk.
"Yes, Draco?" he asked tiredly. Lucius was tired of this. He was at a loss as to what to do with the half-blood madman in his home, causing him frustration about not being able to protect his family.
"I don’t want to bother you more than necessary, but Scabior failed to mention we have a guest in the cell with Uncle Severus."
Lucius’ eyebrows rose curiously as he wondered at the identity of this ‘guest’.
"He was told to report to you and then you report to me who our guests are," Lucius drawled as he got up and started pacing.
"Who is this mysterious guest?" Lucius anxiously asked Draco.
Draco drew in a breath and let it out slowly, "Potter’s Mudblood," waiting for his father’s reaction.
Lucius froze in mid-step. "Miss Granger, here in my manor? How long has she been down there?"
"A day, and the guards knew she was down there and failed to report it to us," Draco hissed irritably as he poured himself a drink.
Lucius sat down on his sofa, his face in his hands. He had lost control of his home, family, and friends. This was too much for him to bear.
"As long as he doesn’t know she is here she will be safe," Lucius spoke nervously to Draco.
Draco raised an eyebrow curiously. "You know he'll know, Father. What shall I do? Let her escape on her own so she can bring the Order here? To help us?"
Lucius had thought long and hard about defecting to the Order. Not for himself, but to help his family survive this war. He ran a hand through his unruly hair as he started to pace some more, eyeing the alcohol on the shelf. An idea came to his mind so he yeled for his elf. "Elsy!"
Elsy Apparated into the room. She was the one who had cared for Lucius when he was a babe. "Yes, Master?"
"Check on Severus to see if he needs anything. He is in the dungeon."
Elsy did as she was told and appeared in front of Severus’ cell. Her little ears went back when she saw the other occupant in there with him.
"Master Severus, do you need anything?"
Hermione was startled by the house-elf as Severus laid a reassuring hand on her arm.
"Elsy, we need more food and water. And find out from Lucius when we can leave this dreadful cell."
Elsy nodded and Disapparated away to report back to Lucius.