Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

Chapter 11 ~ The Final Straw

Severus dozed off and had an erotic dream. But it wasn’t about him. It was about Marcus and Hermione. They were in a bedroom and Marcus was slowly removing Hermione’s clothing as the witch stared up at him. After he undressed her, he helped her into the bed, then undressed himself and joined her, rolling on top of the witch and kissing her passionately.

Severus groaned in the armchair as he watched the wizard lift the witch’s legs to his shoulders and drive into her, Hermione arching up and screaming, presumably from being deflowered. He watched as the wizard fucked the witch almost brutally, came and rolled off her. Hermione was sobbing. Marcus then left the bed, scourgified the blood off himself, dressed, said something to her by way of thanks and left the room, leaving the crying witch alone in the bed. She rolled over and curled up in a fetal position. The dream ended.

Severus suddenly awoke and rubbed his hand over his face, not knowing how he felt about the dream. One thing was certain, it hadn’t been arousing at all. It was all very cold and clinical in a way. Severus had imagined that Hermione would at least enjoy having sex with the wizard, but in the dream, Marcus had kissed her, then fucked her and left her crying. There was no foreplay, no caresses, nothing. Severus wasn’t exactly Valentino in the sack for the most part, he hadn’t taken time out with a woman since his first love, but he figured that something more could have been done to make the witch enjoy the act. It was Hermione’s first time after all.

Still, it was just a dream. Plus, he had nothing to do with how Marcus would take Hermione. His job was to distract her, fuck her and make her forget about him. But if that dream was predictive, Severus had no doubt that she could forget about all men as a result of the blonde wizard’s treatment of her. He didn’t want Hermione to end up frigid, or hating all men. He just wanted her to get her mind and hormones off him.

He’d have to talk to Marcus about this and make sure he wouldn’t so blatantly mistreat the witch. Marcus probably wouldn’t take the intrusion on his method of operation well, but despite his dark nature, Severus did have somewhat of a conscience. Not a large one, but he had enough guilt concerning lives he had a hand in destroying because of his service to the Dark Lord. It was his elixir that kept the despot alive and powerful after all. He didn’t want to add Hermione to those ever-increasing numbers.

He sat up in the armchair.

“Raucous!” he called, wondering if the bird was in the study or out winging about Hogwarts. A squawk rang out from overhead and the raven dropped down, landing on the table next to the armchair. He cawed a greeting to the Potions Master.

“Raucous, I need you to do something for me tomorrow. I want you to spy on Miss Granger,” he said, “She’s having lunch with Mr. Delaluci and I want to know what transpires between them.”

Raucous stood up proudly and cawed assent. He would be happy to spy on the witch. He hoped he’d see something incriminating.

“Good,” Severus said, petting the bird, “They are going to lunch in the astronomy tower at noon tomorrow. You’ll need to get there before they do and situate yourself in the rafters, and send me what you see and hear. You can do that, can’t you?”

YES

The Potions Master gave the useful bird a thin smile, then looked at the clock. It was lunchtime.

Severus stood up.

“Care to accompany me to lunch?” he asked the bird. In answer, Raucous hopped on to the Potions Master’s shoulder. They exited the rooms and started up the corridor.

They heard a door close behind them. Raucous looked behind and saw Hermione following, also on her way to lunch. He opened his beak threateningly as he glared at her. In response, Hermione narrowed her eyes at the bird and drew out her wand, holding it at her side as she walked. If the bird launched himself at her, he’d be more than sorry.

Severus knew Hermione was walking behind him, and slowed his stride. Hermione noticed this, and sped up, intending on passing the Potions Master. When she drew alongside him, Severus annoyingly matched her pace. She couldn’t out walk the wizard. His legs were too long. Raucous fluttered to Severus’ other shoulder, eyeing the witch’s wand warily. Severus glanced down at her and saw the drawn wand.

“Really Miss Granger, must you stalk the halls as if spoiling for a duel?” he commented.

In answer, Hermione looked at Raucous, who clipped his beak at her nastily.

“I just want to be prepared if that motley feather ball tries to dive bomb me like he usually does. I’m tired of cleaning bird shit out of my hair,” she said, scowling at Raucous.

The bird made a noise that sounded like a chuckle.

The Potions Master hesitated, then said, “I noticed you cozying up to Mr. Delaluci this morning.”

“Marcus happens to be a very fascinating wizard. He’s descended from a dragon. I find that absolutely intriguing. He’s clearly the most interesting wizard at Hogwarts,” she gushed.

Severus fought back the urge to remind Hermione that dragons had a taste for virgins, but that would open up a whole other jar of flubberworms. He wouldn’t tip Marcus’ hand.

“I suppose you find those purple orbs of his fascinating as well,” the Potions Master said, rather sullenly. Hermione looked at him sharply.

“You’re jealous!” she accused him with glee. “You think I find him attractive, and it pisses you off!”

Hermione laughed at the sour-faced wizard.

“Don’t be absurd. I don’t give a niffler’s ass if you find that wizard attractive. I want you to find him attractive, then you could retract your claws and stop clinging to the hope that I’ll ever want you,” he snarled at her.

Hermione looked at him soberly.

“So, you’re telling me you wouldn’t care one bit if I gave what I’ve been saving for you to him,” she asked him, looking into his eyes.

Severus scowled at her.

“No. I wouldn’t give a damn if you fucked him or anybody else. I wish you would and stop dangling your virginity in front of me like bait. I’m not going to bite, Miss Granger!”

Hermione frowned at him, and her eyes began to fill with tears.

“You’re a fucking ass, Severus Snape!” she screamed at him and ran down the corridor, Raucous cawing after her in birdie laughter. She turned into the Great Hall. Her vision blurred, she slowed and put her wand back in her pocket.

Maybe she should just give up like he said. He didn’t want her. He didn’t appreciate what she was offering him. He didn’t want to be happy. He didn’t want to be her first. He didn’t want anything to do with her. Suddenly she stopped walking. She was tired of the fighting, of him stepping all over her heart. She thought he was worth it, worth the struggle, worth fighting for. She realized he wasn’t.

For the first time in her life, Hermione Granger was giving up.

The Potions Master rounded the corner and saw Hermione standing in the Great Hall. She looked at him, an expression of defeat on her face. He went to walk by her. She stepped in front of him.

“Severus, wait. I have something to say to you,” she said.

“Other than I’m a fucking ass?” he inquired snarkily.

Then he looked at Hermione closely. It seemed like the light had gone out of her eyes. They were wide and dark as she looked at him. He got a cold feeling in his stomach.

“Yes. I just want to say, you win. I’m giving up. I realize that you really don’t want me and I’m saving myself for no good reason. You can’t feel anything for anyone, and I was a fool to believe that you could. I was an idiot for thinking I could make a wizard like you happy. That you could make me happy,” she said softly.

She took a strengthening breath.

“So, you don’t have to worry about me trying to seduce you, or throwing myself at you, or even wanting you any longer. Things die every day. My feelings for you will die too. If they don’t on their own, there are potions that can kill them permanently. I imagine you wouldn’t have a problem brewing one for me if I need it, would you?”

The Professor slowly shook his head.

“Then I suggest you do that, and put it away for me. I’ve wanted to be with you for years, and I can’t expect those feelings to go away overnight. I’ll come to you if I need it. But from this point forward, you don’t have to worry about me loving you anymore. You can live your miserable, loveless, joyless life in peace from here on out,” she said. “No more fighting, arguing or retaliations.”

She looked at the bird on his shoulder, who was watching the witch with his head cocked.

“At least you have Raucous. He’s a kindred spirit. You’ll be happy together. I did that much for you at least,” she said, then turned and walked into the Great Hall without looking back.

Severus blinked after her. Was he free? Was he truly free of her? Yes! The gods had heard his plea. The witch had given up. Probably for the first time in her life, she was a failure. He finally got through to her.

He walked into the Great Hall, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He looked up at the dais. Hermione was seated, sticking her fork half-heartedly into her salad. She didn’t look up. Down the table a ways, sat Marcus, who nodded at him.

Marcus. He had to tell the blonde wizard his services were no longer necessary. That the siege was over, and he had been victorious. Of course he would let Marcus keep the money for services rendered. He was tantamount in the downfall of Hermione Granger in a way. It was Severus’ unconcern about her fucking the wizard that finally broke her. If Marcus had not approached the witch, Severus wouldn’t have been able to shoot her down.

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After supper, Severus stopped Marcus in the hall.

“I have good news, Mr. Delaluci. Your services are no longer needed. The witch has told me she will desist in her pursuit of me. It’s over. Of course, you may keep the money I’ve given you. You did help to bring this about,” the Potions Master said.

Marcus looked at him a moment.

“Well, Professor, I’m happy for you,” he said slowly, “And even more happy for me.”

Severus frowned at the wizard.

“What do you mean?” he asked him.

“Well, if Hermione has given up on you, I imagine it is because you said something to her that made her realize her love was wasted on you. She’s going to need…comforting. Women in her position are ripe for the pickings. They want someone to hold them, comfort them, make them feel better. Her inexperience ought to make her very easy to fuck at this point in time,” Marcus said.

Severus scowled at him.

“Surely you don’t mean to continue to pursue her, Mr. Delaluci?” Severus said, his voice a bit raw.

“I most certainly do. I want what I saw in that pensieve, Snape. You might not appreciate that sweet body, but I sure do. I’d do her without your money. And I intend to,” the wizard said, “I haven’t washed blood off my cock in a long, long time. I believe I’m overdue.”

Severus looked at the wizard. He was even more of a pig than the dark wizard had imagined. He still intended to fuck the witch. He wouldn’t have even noticed her if Severus hadn’t hired him. The Potions Master glared at the wizard for a moment.

Marcus noticed his glare. The Potions Master was definitely sending mixed signals. He didn’t want to fuck the witch, but it seemed he didn’t want anyone else to either.

“You’re all right with this, aren’t you Snape? I mean you didn’t want her, and she’s finally written you off. It’s only right another bloke takes a shot at her. She’s gorgeous after all, and I’ve got a hell of a good chance of fucking her,” he said, smiling at the wizard lasciviously.

“You can do what you want to her, Mr. Delaluci. She was a concern to me only because of her hopeless pursuit,” Severus said evenly.

Marcus rubbed his hands together.

“You have no idea what I’m going to do to her, now that it’s open season and I’m not under contract,” he remarked, “I’ll see you later, Snape.”

With that, Marcus walked off toward his rooms. Severus walked in the other direction, his eyes shifting back and forth as he thought about what Marcus intended.

Shit. It wasn’t his fucking problem.

Raucous squawked on the Potions Master’s shoulder and sent him an image of Marcus and Hermione eating lunch, followed by a question mark. The bird wanted to know if Severus still wanted him to spy on them.

“No, Raucous. It’s no longer necessary. Miss Granger is no longer a problem,” he replied to the raven.

Severus headed back towards his rooms. It was early, but he was going to get good and drunk.

He had nothing better to do now.

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A/N: Well, that’s sad. Hermione’s given up. But Marcus sure hasn’t. I wonder what’s going to happen at lunch tomorrow? And is Severus just going to stand by and let Marcus have Hermione? Questions, questions. The sad thing is, your guess is as good as mine. Lol. Well, the next chapter ought to be interesting. Please review.

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The Burning Pen

Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence. Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately. You are not welcome here. The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 12

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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