Quick A/N- I just wanted to remind everyone before they read this chapter that this story is rated M for a reason. If you do not like stories that contain graphic descriptions of sex, please turn back now. Otherwise, read on fellow readers, read on…

Severus fought the stinging pain in arm as he walked into his room. Once he was through the doorway he allowed his illusion door frame to melt back into wall then drew out his wand. He summoned his cloak and mask to him and quickly threw the cloak on while stashing the mask inside. He then leveled his wand at the wall "Hogwarts front gate," He intoned, flicking the wand through a complicated motion at the wall. The doorway reappeared and when he walked through it he stepped out into the chill air of the evening. He turned and watched his doorway melt back into unassuming stone blending back into one of the pillars of the school's gate. It was a handy piece of magic that was most useful when he had to make a hasty retreat from the school. Checking to make sure no one was around; he pulled his mask from the cloak, placed it on his face and pulled up his hood. Wand in hand again he pushed back the robe on his arm and touched his wand tip to the burning mark, activating the teleportation charm embedded in it.

He felt slightly dizzy as his body was spit out of the vortex of disapparition, noting to himself that the Dark Lord must currently be a good distance from Scotland. As he became more oriented to his surroundings, he began to store "snapshots" of the meeting place in his mind to share with Albus later. Wherever they were, it was still night time. He had landed in a clearing of a wooded area; the tree line jagged and pitch black behind him. He could hear no signs of nature or seascape, and noted snow under his feet. Thirty feet in front of him lay a cabin, only visible for the light shining out a window and smoke creeping out a chimney. Severus began to trudge ahead, feeling the urgency return to the burning of his mark. As he approached closer he found it was an old log cabin that looked on the outside as if it would collapse. He walked up the three rickety steps in the front and stood on the small landing, extending his hand and quickly rapping twice on the old wooden door.

He heard shuffling inside and the door opened to reveal the mangy form of Peter Pettigrew. The man shot him a look of displeasure and Severus let a grimace spill across his face. "Pettigrew," he muttered, his tone indicating there were no pleasantries between them. Ever since he had learned it was Peter who had betrayed Lilly to the Dark Lord he had barely been able to stand the rat. Peter seemed to dislike him for the good rapport he carried with the Dark Lord.

"Our Lord awaits you, Snape." Peter said, shuffling back, the sneer sliding across his face as he lowered it to not look Severus directly in the eye.

He decided not to spare another look on the twitchy man that had spent so many years living as a rat that even now he maintained some animal characteristics. Walking down the hallway that stretched beyond the door he found his way into a sitting room that was lit merely by the fireplace. The menace of the wizarding world sat in a wingback chair, facing the fire. His robes were his informal grey ones and the hood was pushed back with his serpent like profile visible from Severus' vantage point. A small end table sat next to the chair, holding what looked like a glass of red wine. There was a book that rested in the Dark Lord's lap that seemed to hold his attention. Curled at his feet was his familiar Nagini; the snake seeming happily asleep, basking in the heat from the fireplace. The scene seemed almost domestic to Severus, in a macabre sense. "My Lord," he called out as he crossed the threshold and dropped to one knee in a bow, waiting to be acknowledged.

"Ah, Severus…" He could hear the Dark Lord shuffle as he accepted his presence. "Rise." Severus stood and watched as he sat down his book and wandlessly conjured another chair next to the end table. "Please, remove your mask and come join me."

"An honor as always, my Lord." He slid the mask off his face and placed it into a pocket of his robe and crossed the room, taking the offered chair. He waited for his master to speak first, knowing that inquiries made without invitation could lead to reprimands if he was not in a mood to tolerate them.

"I'm sorry to call you so late when I know you have had a particularly long week, but I must confess I am eager to hear how my "present" for you has been faring." The Dark Lord began, his red eyes almost twinkling in a morbid parody of the headmaster.

"My pet was just released back to her dormitory today." Severus started the speech he had been planning for the last couple of days. "She was a virgin and it seemed the experience was quite trying on her body."

The Dark Lord made a noise as if he was regretful. "Had I known she was pure, I would have saved her for you."

"It consoles me a little to know that at least, my Lord."

"Did you care for her during her recovery?"

"Yes, my Lord. The fool Dumbledore has stated she was only interrogated and she believes it best to lead her friends on to think she had her memory of the event altered so she can't remember. He thinks her too valuable to Potter to try and remove her from the school."

His master laughed. "That man has always thought he has known best. Little does he know how much control we now have over her. We will turn her to our cause, and in exchange we shall garner the use of her brilliant mind. It's somewhat of a pity she is a mudblood," he expressed with sorrow in his tone. "She could have given you some truly powerful offspring."

"Lucinda has already given me two children. That is all I need."

"Yes, of course." He agreed in an affectionate tone. "How are Xavier and Xander doing?"

"They are keeping their mother on her toes. They have started to manifest magical ability." Severus remembered Lucinda telling him of Xander floating a toy to himself across the playroom.

"That is good to hear. I knew she would be a suitable wife for you," The Dark Lord smiled at him. "Tell me, does your other bride suit you as well?"

Severus prepared himself. "She has only recovered, so I have not really got to test her out fully."

"Look at me," he commanded. Severus turned to face him and fought the urge to flinch as he locked gazes with him. "Legilimens!"

He immediately felt the intrusion into his mind and rapidly began to cloak the memories he needed to hide, leaving his thoughts he wanted the Dark Lord to find open. His master witnessed him watching Hermione cry in pain as she recovered, watched her fall apart as she realized she had been marked. Then he felt him come to the memory he had fabricated and as the Dark Lord watched it, he was drawn into it as well.

"InServio."

Hermione's eyes took on a drugged quality. She looked at him expectantly. "What do you desire, Master?"

In his mind he sat in one of the chairs in his study, Hermione sitting on her knees in front of him, looking like the perfect servant. He unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock, which was already half-aroused. "I desire your lips wrapped around me, pet."

Hermione crawled forward until she was seated between his legs. He reached forward and gathered up her loose hair into his fist, moving it out of her face. She leaned forward and Severus felt the echo of the adrenaline that had coursed through him when she had leaned towards him in real life. Her tongue swiped out, flicking across the tip of his organ and he let out a slow hiss of anticipation. She licked her lips then leaned forward, opening her mouth, and slowly took the length of him in.

He groaned at the feel of her warm mouth surrounding him, the way her wet lips slid still further downward, dragging his now firm cock deeper into its pleasurable depths. She held still for a moment as she reached the base, then retracted, only to slide back down just as excruciatingly slow. She pulled away then and began to lick the underside of his cock, swirling her tongue around the sensitive skin. He gasped as she gently nipped at the bundle of nerves that rested behind the head of his cock, the pleasure jolting through him and he tightened his grip on her hair. She wrapped her mouth around him once again and applied a light sucking motion to just the head, then he watched her bob further down and felt her tongue begin to circle around the length that was inside her. The pleasure was coursing through him; the sight of her pink lips wrapped around his cock, one of her hands had snuck up to caress his balls. She began to pull away, no doubt to torture him some more, and he pulled sharply on her hair, the spell making a look of ecstasy cross her face.

"Tease." He growled and shoved her down onto the full length of his cock. "Suck." He commanded her, steel in his tone.

She began to bob up and down the length of him quickly, her mouth never fully leaving him. She got a steady rhythm and would occasionally increase the pressure as he tugged on her hair making her scalp taunt. The pleasure at the moment was indescribable. As the tension mounted to a crescendo her jerked her up by her hair and took control, thrusting rapidly into the wet depth of her mouth, brushing against the back of her throat. He groaned as his orgasm overtook him and held her head firmly down, the frantic constrictions of her throat adding to the tremors of his release. He pushed her off as he came down from his peak and she fell back slightly, gasping for breath, tears running down her face. He grabbed his wand from his sheath and scourgified the remaining mess. He then tucked himself back into his pants and leaned forward to look at Hermione. She was looking at the floor and he hooked a finger under her chin, angling her face up to look at him. Tears marked her face, lips now swollen, her eyes still held the drugged quality.

"Very good, pet." He wiped the tears from her face. "You've served me well."

She offered him a blissful smile. "Thank you, Master."

"Now, off to bed with you. That is all."

He watched the influence of the enchantment disappear from her eyes. She looked at him, obviously having no memories of the activity. "Goodnight professor." She said and stood up, exiting the room without further prompting needed.

Severus heard the Dark Lord laugh as he withdrew from his mind. "Ah, I see you are already on your way to breaking her in properly. She looks like she will be the most compliant slave once you have her broken."

"I hope so, my Lord." He lied smoothly. "She does seem to have potential."

"A faithful follower such as you deserves her and so much more." His master stated. "Once I have claimed my rightful place as ruler of the wizarding world, I hope you will be able to enjoy the rewards you have earned for your faithfulness."

"I look forward to the day, My Lord."

"The night grows late, and with my curiosity sated I shall send you on your way, Severus." The Dark Lord motioned for him to rise. "I would like you to bring her by for a short visit during the winter hols, I think. It would be nice to see her in action."

Severus bowed. "Of course. Good evening, my Lord."

"Good evening, Severus."

Severus turned and exited swiftly, working hard to still mask his emotions. He did not stay to be escorted out by Pettigrew and quickly made his way outside, apparating back to Hogwarts once past the wards. As he walked the school grounds and made his way to his quarters, he tried to let the anger bleed out of him. It seemed irrational to be so possessive of her, but part of him was angered by the Dark Lord's request to see Hermione on the winter hols. He accessed the floo once back in his study and contacted the headmaster.

"Albus?" He inquired into the emerald flames.

"Ah, Severus, you have just returned?" The headmaster asked as his face appeared in the flames. Severus avoided sticking his head into fireplaces as much as possible and was content to let Dumbledore do the dirty portion of the conversation.

Severus nodded as the disembodied head watched. "The Dark Lord seems to have accepted the memories I presented to him. He revealed part of the reason she was chosen was he hopes to turn her to his cause through her bond to me. I do not know what he plans to use her in, but it is obvious he needs her intellect on something."

Dumbledore nodded as he processed the information. "He may detest muggle-borns, but I am starting to believe he has tapped all of his willing resources among the purebloods. How goes keeping Miss Granger from having to personally serve him?"

Severus scowled despite trying not to. "I had hoped the manufactured memory would be enough to keep him content for a while, but he seems most eager to see Miss Granger in action. He has asked me to bring her by over the winter hols for a visit."

"You will have to work with Miss Granger then on getting her more comfortable with you," Dumbledore stated. "It is early October; the hols will be here quicker than we think."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers; trying to fight off the headache he felt building. "I despise this Albus," He murmured as he closed his eyes, the first wave of pain washing over his head. "She is my student."

"It is regrettable," His colleague wore a solemn expression. "But Miss Granger is an adult and a member of the Order. Even though it would have been difficult, she could have not agreed to help, but she has done so willingly. You must guide her as long as she is willing to carry out this farce or until we can find a way to resolve the situation without sacrificing either of you."

He was quiet for a moment, resisting the urge to protest the older man's words. Part of him would gladly be "sacrificed" if it could save any of her innocence, could make it so she could live her life freely. However, there was another part of him that reminded him that sacrificing himself now would destroy all the work the Order had done and maybe even tip the scale to where the Dark Lord won. "Very well, Albus." He stated at last. "I have already offered her the apprenticeship so our cover is in place."

"I am sorry you had to offer it under the unpleasant circumstances you did. Hopefully, something good will still be able to come out of it."

"I hope so as well. If that is all…"

"Yes, of course." The headmaster supplied. "I realize there are no classes tomorrow, but as it is after one, I should let you go. Oh- one other thing. What would you think about offering Miss Granger the use of the apprentice quarters located in dungeons?"

Severus arched one of his eyebrows, which he instantly regretted as it sent another wave of pain through his head. The evening was starting to really take its toll. "I suppose, but it is highly unusual for an apprentice that is still a student to take up lodging outside of their House."

"I think an exception can be made for her based on her heavy course work and the fact that she will be undertaking tasks for you correlating to her new academic status."

"Very well." He sighed in defeat. "I shall speak to her in the morning."

"Excellent! With that, I will bid you goodnight Severus."

"Goodnight Albus." Severus disconnected the floo and made his way into his room where he stripped his cloak off onto the wingback chair in the room and then left his clothes in a hamper in the bathroom that was charmed to deposit them into the laundry area where the elves would care for them. He retrieved a pair of his navy colored pajama pants from the closet then walked over to the bed. He could tell it had been tidied, but realized the sheets had not been changed after Hermione had slept in it. His role as spy had led him to be so paranoid that he had made it so the elves could only come into his quarters when he told them to. Too tired to summon an elf, he tossed back the covers and crawled into the bed. "Nox." He muttered, extinguishing the torches in the room, leaving a dim glow in the fireplace. His eyes slipped closed and he inhaled deeply as he tried to let go of the day. He found sleep rushing up to greet him as he registered somewhere in the back of his mind that he could smell her on his pillow.