Title: Beauty in the Breakdown

Unnecessary Disclaimer: Just borrowing for a time. I don't own anything except the mistakes and the plot.

Previously…

"Fine, fine. There is something to be said for a proper upbringing though. I want you to take Draco," Lucius said completely nonchalantly.

Severus eyes flashed suddenly with fear for a moment. The girl… he thought. "What makes you think I'll take in a grown man?"

"The Dark Lord."

Severus sighed and rubbed his hand down his face as he leaned back on his desk. He nodded slightly to show his acknowledgment.

"I knew you'd see sense. Besides nineteen does not make a grown man," Lucius said as he hunkered down and leaned on his knees, his pale hair shadowing his face from view. "This stays in the vault," he said more pensively. "Draco needs protection. I believe that getting him ensconced with you was my last reward from the Dark Lord."

Severus understood. The both of them had something of a falling out with Lord Voldemort since the incident on the Tower, a couple years back. Severus had been regulated to potions duty and not much else while in hiding. While Voldemort used Malfoy's home as base of operations, he rarely asked Lucius for anything and seemingly left them both bereft of any real orders besides staying out of the way. It was a strange limbo. They both felt as if they were being kept for something sinister down the road. But what about the girl… Severus thought again. "Does Draco have a task?" He asked after a moment of introspection.

"Yes." Lucius said darkly pushing his hair out of his eyes.

"Well, I'm not going to beg." Severus replied nastily looking at the ochre coloured liquid still left in his glass. Perhaps another, he thought.

"He is to see to Miss Granger's education." Lucius said softly looking at the golden flames dancing in the grate.

Severus sputtered as he was taking the last swig of his firewhiskey. Astonished by the quick admission and surprised at the task. He asked, "What do you mean 'Education'?"

"Draco is to teach her the ways of being a proper Pureblood witch," Lucius said leaning back into the cushions. "The Dark Lord has great plans for that girl I assume, terrifying I'm sure. But great, none the less."

"And where is Granger?" Severus asked. Lucius seemed to know more then him but friend or foe, he didn't want to give her away. After all perhaps, she might still believe he was with the Order of the Phoenix and was there for any help he would give her. If he could, he would.

"Oh, Severus. I think we're both getting rusty. I assume she's somewhere up there," he chuckled and pointed up the stairs. "She was to come here, immediately after… Well, after." His voice had lost all of the previous joviality. Lucius did not care to repeat the things he saw, all under the ruse of initiation. It was the most brutal he had seen the Inner Circle since Fenir Greyback had claimed a number of women on the night of the full moon years ago. He could only hope she wouldn't remember his participation. He had tried to make his participation as painless as possible.

Severus moved to sit behind his mahogany desk. It was one of the few real luxuries he had allowed himself. "So what? Am I just supposed to let Draco use my home to torture Miss Granger into being a perfect, narcissistic, whimpering bitch? I'm just supposed to sit by and watch as two of the best pupils to come into my classroom become even greater pawns in war not meant for them," with every sentence Severus volume grew and he started to breathe heavier chest heaving. "Am I here to pick up her pieces time and time again? Am I here to report on Draco's effectiveness? Am I doing anything worthwhile anymore for either side of this bloody farce?"

"Severus, please calm down," Lucius shouted over Snape. He had not seen Severus with this many cracks in his carefully constructed façade since Lily. "If we don't get it together the both of them will die. I know that for both of us this is no longer about Pureblood vs. Mudblood. We chose the wrong side, now we will make up for it by making sure that someone survives."

"Really? Well I'm sure Granger would rather die then get violated anymore," he said venomously. "As surely that is the only way to salvation."

"SEVERUS!" Lucius finally all but screamed. "GET IT FUCKING TOGETHER! I DON'T NEED YOU FALLING APART NOW TOO. DID YOU HEAR ME? WE HAVE TO SAVE THEM! WE NEED YOU!"

Severus stared blankly forward. He couldn't believe he'd taken that line of thought, that he had been that vocal about his worries. He had been too disturbed by the casualties that this war was accumulating and it was taking its toll.

Lucius cloudy grey eyes stared in disbelief as he watched Severus sallow face. Severus jaw tightened, he drew his lips into a thin line, straightened his back and then looked down at the floor momentarily before looking back at Lucius. It was as if he pulled all his armour back into its place. Black eyes previously blazing with anger were now stony and cold. "When did you get a hero complex?" he asked Lucius facetiously.

Lucius smirked, "Oh, I don't know. When did you get so emotional?" he joked. "In all seriousness, though Severus, you're supposed to help Draco. While they are here, you and Draco are to educate her. Teach her the subtleties of Pureblood etiquette. She is not to be tortured or harmed anymore. Pettigrew will be leaving with me tonight. Draco is also to help you with potions." He said this all matter-of-factly. He slipped a hand into his cloak and drew out a long thin box and placed it on the table. "This is her wand, she is not to have it. Draco will be by tomorrow. Protect them from what you can." He said softly and removed himself from the sofa.

Severus just stared at the box on the table. Absentmindedly, he said, "The rat's caged down the cellar."

Lucius gave the man a curt nod and walked out of the room. Severus heard him murmur down the hall, "Merlin, help us all."

***

Severus watched the slow and steady rise and fall of Hermione's chest. He studied her noting the differences in her heart shaped face when compared to that first night. No longer littered with the ugly signs of torture, her skin was a slight shade of honey. A number of small scratches had disappeared. A thin white line on the underside of her left jaw was the only visible scar of whatever she had endured. No longer swollen shut, her eyes moved rapidly beneath the delicate skin of her eyelids. He waited for them to open. The longer it took for her to wake up the more he lost just a little bit of whatever hope a man like him still had.

Severus got out of his chair and he pulled back the bedclothes. Hermione was still naked amongst the sheets. He leaned over and subtly slipped his arms under her knees and behind her back to lift her. He was surprised when she curled into his warmth and then her breath hitched slightly as she grumbled, eyes still shut.

The whiskey coloured eyes Severus had been waiting on seeing, slowly opened and quickly shut. He sighed sorrowfully and continued to the bathroom. He placed her in a white claw-footed tub that he had filled with warm water and sweet smelling soaps. He rolled a towel and placed behind her head, slowly he lifted a flannel and suds it up with the tub water. He was going to start at her neck, but again the eyes opened. They stayed open this time.

"I—" Severus started but could not think of what to say. She'd been sleeping for six days now. His steady hand had erased any visible signs of torture, except for the Dark Mark and one or two scars. He decided on, "You needn't explain anything, Miss Granger." Perhaps their situation would be easier if she didn't have to talk about things, perhaps she had already repressed. "I will wait till you are ready."

Hermione stared at him for a long moment, eyes unreadable. "Um… thank you," she croaked softly and started coughing roughly.

Severus leaned over and brought a glass from near by to her lips. "Drink. It will feel better. I promise." Hermione nodded and sipped from the cup ever so slowly. "Would you like me to leave?" he inquired softly. "Do you think you can manage?"

Slowly, Hermione looked down at herself and realised she was in the bath. She shook her head in the negative and kept her eyes trained curiously on Severus.

Wordlessly, Severus resumed soaping up the flannel. He lifted her arm and softly rubbed the soap into her skin. He moved over to the other arm and up into her shoulder. Awkwardly, he slid the flannel over the valley and peaks of her breasts, even though he had done this a number of times already.

Amber and onyx locked on each other, she had an almost defiant look in her eyes. But he held her gaze as his hand travelled down her abdomen and between her legs. "Do you think you can sit forward?" He asked.

Gingerly, she grasped the sides of the tub and tried to pull herself forward. She tried again, but she hadn't the strength for it. Severus put one hand in front of her and one hand in back and propped her against his right arm. With his left he washed her back in slow soothing circles. "Do you think you could stay upright? I haven't properly washed your hair since you got here."

Hermione acquiesced and with a deep breath, she grasped the sides of the tub again to steady herself as Severus grabbed for an empty cup. He filled it with water from the tub and wet her hair, careful not get it in her eyes or face. She looked on as the water in the tub turned a pinkish colour and a small gasp escaped her lips. He vanished the now offending bathwater and refilled it again with the same sweet smelling warm water.

Severus began to massage her hair and scalp. Lavender and vanilla permeated the billows of steam around the bathroom. Hermione's eyes got heavy and fell shut as she gave into the sensation of having another, so tenderly wash her hair. A small moan escaped her flushed lips.

Shocked, Severus stopped moving his dexterous fingers. He squeezed out the remaining soapiness and filled the cup, a few times, with clean water to rinse her hair. She began to slump forward and Severus decided that it was enough.

The water drained from the tub as he worked a towel through her hair and down her body drying her before he lifted her out and brought her back to the bed. He covered her with the soft bedclothes. She was already sleeping again. "We will talk in the morning, Miss—Hermione," he said barely above a whisper.

A/N 1: Well... ? I hope everyone likes. Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed or followed or are lurking :) Please let me know what you think of everything so far!

A/N 2: Still looking for a beta.... Any takers?