157Chapter 29: Tears Of The Sickened Heart
{A/N: Here's Another Update...because I was asked so nicely...}
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The Dungeon Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Hermione Granger did not even flinch when she saw the ebony clad brute make his way toward her, the intent behind his darkened eyes never more clear than in that moment. Still, she'd been unimpressed. The man she truly cared for had been bound by darkness set upon him via an ancient curse and despite his insistence that his life had not been worth saving, she was determined to put a stop to this madness once and for all, but she'd been unwilling to see to his end if she could help it.
No sooner had Snape rushed toward her, Hermione stepped back allowing the abrasive wizard to fall into her rather clever little trap much to his disgust. He scrambled to get out of it only to find that he'd been bound to the drawn circle she'd carefully disguised for him.
"You little bitch." hissed Snape with his eyes narrowed at the momentarily victorious young witch.
Hermione weathered his abrasive insults as she stood examining her catch of the day. She couldn't understand why Professor Snape had been so intent on upsetting her until she recalled that the particular aspect of the fiend known as "Ardyn" is strengthened via hate. It had left open the possibility of an emotional out pour having an effect on him.
"Clever as you are, it makes no difference." hissed Snape reaching for her. "You will be mine."
Hermione continued to stand before him confident in her newly augmented magical wards.
"I demand to speak to him, Ardyn." said the amber eyed witch narrowing her gaze at the monster before her.
Snape growled as his body was wracked with agony before he collapsed. The concerned witch watched as The Potions Professor struggled to get to his feet noting for the first time that the binding had not worked on him in this state.
"Why have you?" he began only to be cut off via Hermione rushing toward him and throwing herself into his arms. "What are you doing?"
"I won't let him destroy you." said the determined witch. "You don't deserve this...all you ever did was protect us."
Snape closed his eyes fighting the rush of anguish that flooded him in the wake of the young witch's sentiment.
"Don't." he said knowing full well what she had in mind.
Hermione pulled back meeting his darkened eyes with her tears stained ones.
"I just wanted you to know what was going on." she said wiping them away as she stepped back. "When he returns...he'll have what he's been after...and we can finally put an end to this."
"No." growled Snape in annoyance. "I'll not be responsible for the ruination of yet another foolish girl."
"This has nothing to do with foolishness." protested Hermione determined to get through to him. "You already know what you mean to me."
"I told you then that we were not...no...it's high time you let go of the past." he warned. "I am not the man I use to be...and this thing...this dark entity isn't so easily defeated"
"I have to do this...we have to at least try."Hermione attempted to reason with the ailing wizard. "I've already had to watch you die once...I..."
Tears streamed down her supple young cheeks and the ailing wizard wiped them away.
"So the shy girl had become a woman." he said meeting her gaze.
Hermione looked up at him determined to get him to truly see her for whom she was after all these years.
"You are my undoing." said Snape in a rather casual tone. "It seems fitting don't you think?"
"It doesn't have to be." she replied.
Snape sighed.
He looked to have been quite exhausted as he stood attempting to get her to see that there was little reason to put herself at risk on his behalf.
"You look quite tired." said Hermione observing him closely for the first time in a long time.
"Looks can be deceiving." replied Snape.
Hermione treated him to a sad smile reflecting on the days before the curse had over taken him and her friends still drew breath.
"I wish there was a way to get you rested." she said softly.
Snape allowed her to stroke his cheek once more before attempting to pull away. Her touch had been quite warm, and as soft as he recalled it being years prior when she'd come to assist him after a horrific night of torment at the end of the dark lord's wand.
Black tears streamed down his sallow pale cheeks as she moved her hand away, shocked at what she witnessed. For a moment she had forgotten the curse had been placed upon him, the minor reflective moment passing as the dark tears dripped down his jawline.
"I admit, I miss your touch." he said as if struggling to come to terms with what had become of him even now. "It was the only pleasant thing about those days."
Hermione had not known what to say.
Snape sighed once more reflecting on days past as the eerie black tears continued to fall from his cheeks.
"He asked me to end his life." he continued. "But I couldn't bring myself to comply."
"Dumbledore?" asked Hermione with an arched brow. "Why did..?"
"I never told him the reason why I couldn't bring myself to stoop so low." said Snape unintentionally cutting her off. "And he never asked."
"Professor..." began Hermione as she noted the increase in black tears.
"I've never known an agony more profound than this." said Snape meeting her gaze once again. "To have that which I desire most be so near and yet have not the strength nor the right to obtain it."
The amber eyed witch looked upon the dour man in utter confusion.
"He knows my heart." admitted Snape looking away with a shamed expression. "Knows it all too well I'm afraid...it's the root of all of your suffering."
"It's not your fault." protested Hermione.
"It is." replied Snape now balling his fists. "He wants you because I do."
Hermione had been caught off guard by this sudden admission.
"The curse is designed to feed off what I love...and the hatred it garners strengthens it." explained Snape turning away from the shocked young witch. "You will suffer most of all from the extremes of this darkness that rages inside me...and for that I apologize...for nothing can be done to put an end to it."
"We'll find a way." Hermione assured him.
Once more she stroked his sallow pale cheek with her warm hand.
"I miss your touch." Snape admitted once more, closing his eyes and leaning into it. "But I do not deserve it, nor do I have the right to."
"You're just ill." replied Hermione. "If we can find a way to get you better..."
"It will be of no use." replied Snape pulling away from her at last. "I am what I have always been...the curse not withstanding...and I am at peace with it...should the time come and you have the opportunity, put an end to it or make way for someone who can."
"I won't let you die." said Hermione determined. "There has got to be a way to cure you."
Snape said nothing more as he stepped back through the magical biding the clever young witch had for the fiend that dwelled within. He felt himself losing control and had merely a moment to settle before the wards took hold as the fiend returned, poised and ready to make any move to free itself in a bid to take the young witch by force.
Hermione stepped back startled by the monster's return and even more determined to get the man she once knew freed from it's clutches. The magical trap she set had been something of a start but she needed something stronger than hate to make it work. And there was indeed nothing in her heart for the monster before her other than hatred.
