A Price to Pay
Title: A Price to Pay
Team Name: Death Eaters
Word count: 100 X 2
Rating: G
Challenge: Not a Gentleman
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
A/N: Part III of my response to this challenge. Part I is A Grievous Error and Part II is A Confusing Turn.
Both flattered and flustered by his attentions, she looked about the room again, desperate to change the topic.
‘Where are we exactly?’
‘Malfoy Manor.’
‘What?!’ she shrieked, appalled, snatching her hand away from his. ‘How could you?’ She felt suddenly afraid. ‘What do you want from me?’
‘Nothing you cannot freely offer me, Miss Granger. I only wished to guarantee your safety. The Dark Lord granted me a boon. Your life for my... co-operation.’
‘So you are loyal to Vol... You-Know-Who after all.’ A crushing sense of disappointment threatened to overwhelm her. She had been so sure of his goodness.
*
‘It was a necessary price. One I was more than willing to pay. I assure you, Miss Granger, that I am loyal only to myself. And now... to you.’ He smiled wryly.
She squirmed, uneasy with his confession, yet strangely relieved.
‘What about Harry? The Order?’ she enquired, dreading the answer.
‘Defeated. Likely dead.’
Swallowing tears, she rasped, ‘Was it worth it? Betraying them all?’ Was I worth it, she silently added, hating herself for wanting to hear his affirmation.
‘Indubitably.’
‘Even at the expense of your honour?’
‘Yes, Hermione.’ His gaze was worshipful. ‘Some things are worth any cost.’
Team Name: Death Eaters
Word count: 100 X 2
Rating: G
Challenge: Not a Gentleman
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
A/N: Part III of my response to this challenge. Part I is A Grievous Error and Part II is A Confusing Turn.
Both flattered and flustered by his attentions, she looked about the room again, desperate to change the topic.
‘Where are we exactly?’
‘Malfoy Manor.’
‘What?!’ she shrieked, appalled, snatching her hand away from his. ‘How could you?’ She felt suddenly afraid. ‘What do you want from me?’
‘Nothing you cannot freely offer me, Miss Granger. I only wished to guarantee your safety. The Dark Lord granted me a boon. Your life for my... co-operation.’
‘So you are loyal to Vol... You-Know-Who after all.’ A crushing sense of disappointment threatened to overwhelm her. She had been so sure of his goodness.
*
‘It was a necessary price. One I was more than willing to pay. I assure you, Miss Granger, that I am loyal only to myself. And now... to you.’ He smiled wryly.
She squirmed, uneasy with his confession, yet strangely relieved.
‘What about Harry? The Order?’ she enquired, dreading the answer.
‘Defeated. Likely dead.’
Swallowing tears, she rasped, ‘Was it worth it? Betraying them all?’ Was I worth it, she silently added, hating herself for wanting to hear his affirmation.
‘Indubitably.’
‘Even at the expense of your honour?’
‘Yes, Hermione.’ His gaze was worshipful. ‘Some things are worth any cost.’