Eye of Lizard

As always, I would like to thank JENGEORGE and NervousAboutAngels for being my betas. They both help me immensely with grammar, spelling, and content. And the folks here at TPP are also amazing in their diligence. I have learned so much from them and feel that my writing has improved as a result.

The characters and their world are, of course, the creation of the brilliant J. K. Rowling. I take no credit. I make no money.

Chapter 10

Eye of Lizard

Hermione was still in a numbed state of awareness at the end of the day when she exited the Ministry lobby. She desperately wanted someone to confide in, but Harry would not be back from Ireland until late tonight, and he would need time alone with his family. Hopefully, she would see him tomorrow at Hugo's party. She had made up her mind to make an appearance, no matter what sort of threats Ron threw at her. She contemplated sending Ginny an owl, but she didn't want to drag her into the middle of things. But if she didn't talk to someone tonight, she feared she would burst at the seams.

Her thoughts turned to Snape. Sometimes he did not appear on the computer at all, so she couldn't count on him. But what if he was home but just not logged on? Perhaps he ate dinner late or settled onto the couch to read a good book. There were a million things he could be doing without leaving his house. If he only knew how desperately she wanted to talk, maybe he would gladly log on. But she had to inform him somehow. The family owl was no longer at her disposal. So she decided to stop at Eeylops Owl Emporium to acquire another one. The Owl Post Office was so terribly inconvenient, and their hours were as limited as Gringotts. Yes, an owl of her own seemed a necessity at this point, and it stood just a few yards up the street.

A small brass bell danced happily on a string as she pushed the door open. The shopkeeper, a spry little old man with an ebony cane and wispy white hair, hobbled up to show off his toothy grin. "Good evening, my dear. What may I help you with? We have all kinds of exotic, and not so exotic, pets here. But don't worry. All are quite legal and Ministry approved."

"Oh, nothing exotic. I just need an owl for my mail," she said with a faint smile. It was hard not to like this man. His crystal blue eyes twinkled in a way that reminded her of Albus Dumbledore.

"I have quite an assortment of mail carriers. It just depends on the size of your average package. Although, I must say, many of the small ones can carry an amazing amount of weight."

Hermione nodded as she glanced around the claustrophobic shop. Cages great and small hung from the ceiling, sat on shelves, and stood on the floor, all of which contained any number of creatures. Up in the corner, over the cash register, a lone barn owl sat in a stately manner, yet there seemed an air of sorrow about him. Hermione's heart went out to the bird as he gave her a mournful look.

"What about this one? Is it my imagination, or does he look sad?"

"How perceptive of you, my dear. Yes, he is quite a sad one. You see, his mate was sold a couple of months ago to a tall, dark stranger. I was hoping they would both be sold to a business or organization that needs more than one so they could stay together. But the man only needed the one. I don't even know who he was. He didn't say a word while he was in here. He just pointed to the owl he wanted, paid in Galleons and even left her cage sitting on the counter. Very odd."

Hermione thought immediately of Snape's barn owl. Could he have purchased the mate? She knew that if she sent this one on an errand to Snape's house and he found his mate there, she might never see him again, but it was a chance she was willing to take. She felt a kinship with this sad owl. They needed each other.

"I'll take him."

"Excellent!" The shopkeeper was obviously pleased with her choice. "His name is Gomez. I'm sure that, with a little tender loving care, he will make a fine pet and a loyal servant."

"I'm sure he will." Hermione paid the man, but unlike Snape, she kept the owl in his cage as she left the shop. She planned to pick up Crookshanks tomorrow as well, and the bird would be safer in the cage until the two animals got used to each other.

Hermione was about to take her new friend home when she realized that she would be better off sending the letter now. The owl would reach Snape's house much quicker from here than from Knottingly. So she found a bench, scratched out a quick note on a scrap bit of parchment and tied it to his leg. "Come back to me at 1453 Scatterloaf Lane, in Knottingly, after you've delivered the message. You may hunt on the way home if you'd like." She stroked his back gently and sent him on his way.

Once the barn owl disappeared over the roof tops, Hermione took the cage and Apparated to her parents' house. This is your house now, Hermione, she thought. Your house. She had taken the time that afternoon to go to the Department of Magical Transportation and have her fireplace removed from the Floo Network. She didn't want any more uninvited guests showing up. And now that she had finally arrived home, she created the necessary boundaries and wards so the magical world would have to employ the same door knocker that the Muggle neighbors used if they wished to enter.

Then she walked straight to the family room and turned on the computer. To her utter dismay, Snape was not on line. But the bird may not have gotten to him yet, and even once Snape had her letter, why on earth should he drop what he was doing just to talk with her? I must be delusional. I should never have sent the owl in the first place. What an idiotic...

HalfBloodPrince: I'm here. What seems to be the trouble?

Hermione gasped with joy. Oh, thank Merlin, she whispered under her breath.

MuggleBornWitch: I hope I'm not inconveniencing you. Are you sure you have time to talk?

MuggleBornWitch: Thanks. I just thought you might want to hear about the meeting with my lawyer at lunch today.

She hit send, but he didn't reply. When she re-read what she had sent, she realized, with a touch of embarrassment, that the statement didn't require a reply, so she continued.

MuggleBornWitch: He said that, since Ron is a pureblood, and I'm a Muggle-born, he is within his rights to deny me access to my children.

This time, when she hit send, she expected a reply, but none was forthcoming. Had he left the room? Could he offer no words of comfort or encouragement? Perhaps he was waiting for a question, a request for advice. Perhaps he needed her permission to comment.

MuggleBornWitch: My children mean the world to me. Any ideas on how I could sway the courts to grant me access or joint custody?

What seemed like an eternity passed before his reply appeared on the screen.

HalfBloodPrince: This is indeed an unfortunate turn of events. However, I have no experience in such matters. My parents were unfortunately never divorced, nor do I know of anyone personally who has suffered through such an ordeal involving children. I'm afraid I have no advice to give.

Hermione's heart sank. Why did she believe that, by some miracle, Snape would have all the answers? Of all the foolish school-girl notions...

Snape's heart went out to Miss Granger. To be denied her children was one of the worst scenarios a loving mother such as herself could endure. But his answer had been an honest one. He had nothing to say in the matter and figured no advice was better than wrong advice. So he decided that he would try to gain access to Hogwarts' extensive library this weekend to study the laws, so he could perhaps be of further assistance to her in the future. Headmistress McGonagall had, in the past, allowed him occasional access to the library out of courtesy, but he was only allowed in at night after curfew.

For now, he decided that the best course of action was to redirect Miss Granger's attention elsewhere.

HalfBloodPrince: Nice owl, by the way. I think my owl, Morticia, has taken a liking to him. You may not see him for a while. But if you need him back, just let me know and I'll send him home.

Hermione chuckled. So Snape did buy the mate. Well, at least she had found a way to mend the bird's heart. Small comfort.

HalfBloodPrince: I must admit that, although IM's are immensely more convenient, I prefer owl post in some ways. I can get a better sense of the person sending the letter when I can touch the same parchment and actually see the personality in the handwriting. It's so much more personal to have something tangible to hold in one's hand.

And, Snape thought to himself, to lift to one's nose. He then took another whiff of her recent note.

Hermione found that last statement a bit of a surprise because of his lack of response to those many letters she had written to him so long ago. So while they were on the subject, she decided to delve a little deeper.

MuggleBornWitch: If you enjoy handwritten notes so much, in the first five years after the war, why did you never once answer my letters?

HalfBloodPrince: They provided information somewhat like a newspaper. They never asked a question and therefore never required a reply.

He clicked send, but she didn't answer, yet that didn't surprise him since he had not asked a question. OK, he thought to himself, if you want to get personal, I have one for you...

HalfBloodPrince: Now that you have finally left him, may I ask why you married the weasel in the first place?

MuggleBornWitch: Because the only other man I was interested in didn't give me a ray of hope.

So she was interested in someone else. Curiosity got the better of him and he produced his next inquiry.

HalfBloodPrince: What fool would have left an intelligent, warm-hearted, lovely witch such as yourself without a ray of hope?

Her reply took longer than he expected. He wondered if, perhaps, he knew the man in question and she didn't wish to embarrass the bloke, or perhaps, herself.

MuggleBornWitch: The same fool who wouldn't answer even one of my sixty letters.

Snape's jaw dropped. Twelve months times five years equaled sixty letters. Mangled Merlin – she was referring to him! He was stunned. All those years ago she had written to him, not out of pity, but because she cared for him. All of those years... All those lonely years... He closed his eyes, trying to block out the truth that flashed on the screen before him. Several agonizing minutes passed. What could he say to her? He forced his eyes open and looked at the screen. He was glad she couldn't see his face because he knew that regret and sorrow must have been deeply etched in its lines.

MuggleBornWitch: Are you there?

He swallowed hard and whispered his answer.

HalfBloodPrince: Yes.

MuggleBornWitch: My job at the Ministry is barely what I would call decent. And I would much rather have had a sincere, unselfish, loving husband than the one I ended up with, even if he would have been an unjustly accused and convicted felon.

Snape felt a surge of emotion welling up within him that he had not felt since the night Lily was murdered. All of the mistakes in his life were about to engulf him, and he didn't want to subject her to the flood. He wasn't sure how she would react, or even if he was ready to share this side of himself with her, or anyone else, yet. He had convinced himself that emotions were for the weak, and he had worked very hard over the years to push them all deep down inside. Now her words of compassion and long-felt affection brought them erupting to the surface. He could not -- he would not let her see any sign of weakness.

HalfBloodPrince: Arguing and lamenting over the past is getting us nowhere. I have indeed had enough of this pointless conversation. If you will excuse me, I have work to do. After a long moment of consideration he viciously added: And BTW, what did I ever do that could possibly have given you the impression that I would be sincere, unselfish or loving?

He pushed the send button but couldn't bring himself to log off. He waited for one last reply. He had asked a question, after all. As the torturous seconds passed, he tried to hold on to his composure. Her reply didn't come right away, but after about a minute it, appeared on screen.

MuggleBornWitch: I just know in my heart that you would be.

Would he be? He wasn't so sure. She had willingly been his doormat at school. He shuddered as he remembered some of the cruel things he had said to her. How he must have hurt her... But she kept faith in him. A faith he didn't feel he deserved.

Snape logged off the computer and rested his face in his hands. He felt like crying but somehow found the strength not to. It was all water under the bridge. Perhaps if something had happened between them all those years ago, he would have eventually tired of her youth and incessant blabbering, and they would be sworn enemies now. Everything happens for a reason, he told himself. Besides, just because it didn't happen then, doesn't mean it can't happen sometime in the future. They were better suited for each other now. There was still hope.

*****

Well, now you've done it...idiot! Hermione berated herself as she turned off the computer. Never mind lunch on Monday. You'll probably never see or hear from him again. She could no longer give him reports on Hugo. What use was she to him now? A needy, pitiful, soon-to-be divorcee... He certainly didn't need her – or her excess emotional baggage.

More depressed than ever, Hermione had no appetite for food, so she slowly dragged herself upstairs and decided that a good long soak in the tub might help her relax so she could sleep. She didn't even have Crookshanks there to comfort her, and she would probably never see that owl again. What did the shopkeeper say his name was? Gomez? Odd name for an owl.

After an hour in the water, with occasional additions to keep it hot, she finally felt so pruny that she feared the wrinkles would become permanent if she didn't remove herself and dry off. So she forced herself up, wrapped in a towel, and wandered into the bedroom. To her surprise, her owl sat on the windowsill, dutifully tapping to gain entrance. She rushed over to let him in. No note was forthcoming, but the owl immediately began to cuddle up to her, rubbing his head against her chest. It was as if he knew her heart was breaking. Did Snape send him back because he knew that she would need some companionship tonight? Or did Gomez somehow feel her sadness across the miles? She could only guess, but no matter the reason for his return, she was grateful to have a warm, soft, living creature on which to bestow affection. Thank Merlin for small favors.

*****

The next day, Hermione got dressed, grabbed the already gift-wrapped Quidditch book she had purchased for Hugo the previous week, and headed for her former abode. She was determined to show herself, if only to retrieve her cat and reassure Hugo that she could never forget his birthday party. But Ron had other ideas. She found that he had effectively constructed Anti-Apparation wards around the house, so she was forced to Apparate into a wooded area a couple of blocks away and walk up to knock on the door. As Ron approached, she heard him cast the Muffliato spell and braced herself for what was to come.

"What do you think you're doing here?" asked Ron as he opened the door with wand in hand.

"I came to wish my son a happy birthday and to give him his present. I would also like to retrieve my cat, if you don't mind," Hermione informed him with a condescending tone.

Ron reached behind the door and scooped up Crookshanks, who had followed him out of curiosity. He then unceremoniously shoved the fur-ball in her face. "Here, take him...and good riddance!"

She plopped Crookshanks into the flower garden, and he immediately began to chase gnomes. "I'll get him after I've seen Hugo."

"I told you yesterday that you'd better not come round."

Hermione recalled her conversation with Blaise and the suggestion that she try to "make nice" with Ron so he would be reasonable. "Please, Ron," she said with sorrowful eyes. "He's my son, too. I love him. Can't you let me see him just long enough to give him his present? Then I'll leave, I promise."

"I can't let you in here. Merlin knows what my mum might do to you if she sees you. You've pissed off the lot of us. Just give me the present and I'll see that he gets it." Ron reached out his hand to grab the book from Hermione's arms, but she pulled back just in time.

"You'll say you bought it for him," she accused him suspiciously. "You'll say you ordered it and it just now arrived."

"Oh, grow up, Hermione!" He withdrew his hands and pursed his lips. "Have it your way then. Some mother you are!" He then turned and slammed the door in her face.

She immediately began pounding on it, demanding to be admitted, but to no avail. She then leaned over the bushes by the front windows to see if she could get a glimpse of Hugo and the others, but no one was visible. They must have all been in the family room. When she attempted to walk around to the back of the house to at least wave at Hugo from a window, an invisible barrier prevented her from venturing past the fence gate. She tried every anti-Lock charm and counter curse she could think of, but nothing worked. Ron had become much better at these sorts of charms with age and experience. His job as an Auror required it.

With a huge sigh of disappointment, Hermione walked back to the front yard, scooped up Crookshanks, and made her way back to the wooded area where she could inconspicuously Disapparate home.

Once home, she searched the house for Gomez, but he was nowhere to be found. She opened an upstairs window and called his name, but immediately felt stupid for doing so, as one of the neighbors' kids looked up at her from a nearby backyard, as if she were insane. But she now desperately needed the bird. She wanted to write to Rose at Hogwarts, to let her know what had been going on and what to expect when she returned home in a couple of weeks. She also wanted to send the book to Hugo via owl, along with the birthday card that was already attached. That way he would know most certainly that she did not forget his birthday party. But most of all, she wanted to write to Harry to give him her side of the story. Merlin knows what Ron might have filled his head with by now.

Out of desperation, she turned on the computer. Snape was not on line, so she sent him an email.

Dear Professor Snape,

Hermione

She thought it was best not to allude to their previous exchange. Perhaps they could simply pretend that it had never happened and continue on as before. It was worth a try.

The sun shone brightly in the spring sky, so in hopes that the fresh air and bright blue sky would cheer her spirits a bit, Hermione ventured into the back yard and began to pull weeds from her flower bed. She had to be careful to do it by hand. This was a Muggle neighborhood. But she simply refused to buy a lawnmower or pay someone to cut the grass. No, that chore was easily taken care of with a spell cast under the cover of darkness.

About an hour later, Gomez arrived home with a flutter and a hoot! Snape must have gotten her email. She took him in and introduced him to Crookshanks. When a swat from the cat was met by a vicious bite from the owl, the two seemed to understand each other, because no further aggression was exhibited by either party. This relieved Hermione greatly. The screech owl that was now Ron's had lived in constant fear of Crookshanks, but Gomez made it plain that he was not easily intimidated.

So she attached the book to Gomez's leg and set him on his way, giving him strict instructions to return immediately for more deliveries. After finishing Rose's letter, she began to write one to Harry, but instead of a long and drawn out explanation, she simply requested that he come see her alone on Sunday if family obligations permitted it. What she really needed was a hug. And one of those could only be delivered in person.

After the necessary letter writing had been taken care of, Hermione checked her computer to see if Snape was on line, but she was once again sorely disappointed. In fact, she didn't see him on line for the rest of the weekend. By the time Harry popped over after dinner on Sunday night for a quick visit, Hermione had concluded that lunch with Snape on Monday was no longer going to happen.

Her heart felt like a Bludger at the Quidditch World Cup. She didn't think she could take much more of this, so when Harry opened his arms to her, she didn't hesitate to rush into them. Then the floodgates opened. She wept so long and so hard that she had to use a Drying charm on Harry's shirt when she finally calmed down. But he sat with her on the couch in the family room, patiently rocking her back and forth, just as he had done when her parents were killed over two years before. If she would never be allowed to see her kids again, she would prefer to go the way of her parents, it hurt that much.

Hermione painfully recounted the conversation with Blaise Zabini and his advice on changing Ron's mind. She asked Harry if he would be willing to help her, for the sake of Hugo's health and future Hogwarts education. Of course Harry said "yes" but didn't want to do anything underhanded or unfair to Ron. He was, after all, still Ron's friend too. He promised to at least try to persuade Ron to see reason for Hugo's sake. The boy obviously missed his mother terribly at his birthday party, and was only slightly cheered up when her owl arrived with the book and card from her. Hugo had informed them all that she had promised to be there somehow, and he was quite disappointed that she didn't keep her promise.

When Hermione told Harry that she did come, but Ron wouldn't let her in, he was infuriated. Ron had returned to the room claiming that he had had to get rid of some neighborhood kid selling candy.

"So you were there and he wouldn't let you in, not even for a minute?"

"He claimed that he couldn't guarantee my safety, considering how angry his mum and dad were with me."

"Oh, that's rubbish! They all know why you left. Arthur and George berated him for not being discreet about it out of consideration for your feelings."

"But they don't mind that he was cheating on me?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Harry shrugged. "Didn't seem like it. But Molly's plenty pissed at him, or she was until you didn't bother to show up at your own son's party. Now he's trying to convince her that you're a bad mum, and Hugo's better off without you. I'm not sure she's swallowing it all though."

"You mean there's hope that she might be on my side after all?"

Harry nodded slowly. "I'll tell Ginny what you told me, about trying to get in and Ron wouldn't let you. She'll let Molly know the truth."

"Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you and Ginny. Sometimes I feel like you are the only two real friends I have in this world."

"You should keep trying to see your kids, Hermione, and document the attempts. That way, if it ever comes before a judge, you'll have proof that you are not neglectful, and you want to be with your kids. If nothing else, it will show the rest of Ron's family that you're not the selfish prat that Ron is trying to make you out to be. If you can win Molly over, she'll make Ron give you visitation rights, at the very least."

"OK, Harry. I'll do everything I can."

They sat in silence for a moment; then an idea struck her. "Hey, you know, even though yesterday was the party, tomorrow is Hugo's actual birthday. Perhaps I can stop by his school and take him out to lunch. Did Ron say anything about doing something for Hugo's actual birthday at school? Cupcakes or something?"

"Are you kidding? Ron take cupcakes to a Muggle school?"

Hermione chuckled. "Good. Then I'll pluck him out for lunch and bring him back when we're done. Ron will never know he was gone, and I will get to wish my son a happy birthday in person."

With that happy thought in her head, she said goodnight to Harry. Then after one final disappointing search for Snape on her computer, Hermione headed for bed.

*****

The next day at lunch, Hermione hurriedly headed out the front doors of the Ministry so as to Apparate as close to Hugo's school as she could. He was so happy to see her when she appeared in his classroom door that he jumped up and ran into her arms without permission from his teacher.

"I'll have him back in about an hour, Mrs. Alexander," Hermione informed the stuffy Muggle woman at the front of the classroom.

As they began to leave, Hugo turned on his heel and ran back to his desk. "I can't forget Lizzy," he exclaimed as he retrieved the stuffed lizard. He clutched his constant companion even tighter these days, an unfortunate symptom of the emotional upheaval this break-up was putting him through.

They walked out of the school and down the street to a side street where it was safe to Disapparate back to Hermione's house. She had lowered the Anti-Apparation wards that morning, so she could get to work and bring them back home. Once there, she didn't raise them again, but instead, immediately walked into the family room and turned on the computer, ever hopeful of finding Snape on-line. Then she turned her attention to the kitchen to fix them both a sandwich.

"Tuna salad or chicken salad?"

"Lizzy's lost an eye, Mum. Can you conjure her another one?"

"Lost an eye?" Hermione exclaimed as she reached to examine the toy. The remaining eye looked like a simple red button sewn in place with some black thread to look like the pupil. "Not a problem. I'll do it after lunch," she said with a smile.

"After lunch?' came a low, deep, smooth voice from the family room.

Hermione jumped in fright as she turned to face the voice. Severus Snape stood in the kitchen doorway, smiling at them both. "I thought lunch was to be at my house."

"You startled me, Professor. How long have you been here?"

"I just now arrived."

"Most people Apparate with a crack so loud it wakes the dead. Why didn't I hear anything?" she asked with a touch of suspicion in her voice.

Snape's lip curled slightly. "When one relies on stealth to survive, one finds ways to Apparate in silence."

"I see." She raised an eyebrow at his mysterious answer.

Hugo's eyes got bigger and bigger as Snape strode over and stooped down to his level. "And you must be Hugo, I trust. I'm Severus Snape. It's good to meet you."

"Oh, please pardon my manners," Hermione said hastily.

"What manners," Snape replied dryly.

"Sorry," Hermione admitted sheepishly, "but I didn't think you'd come after our last conversation."

Snape stood to face her. His expression became soft, almost kind. "I extended an invitation. You accepted. It would have been rude of me to just not show up without offering an explanation. Did you actually think I would do that to you? After all that you've been through this week?" A concerned expression crossed his face. Hermione got the distinct impression that she had hurt Snape's feelings.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to expect from you. I don't know what to expect from anybody any more." She began to choke up. "Please forgive me."

As he noticed her eyes begin to water, Snape quickly turned his attention towards Hugo. "It's good to see that your husband has finally come around in his thinking so you two can spend time together. You are both welcome at my house. Winky has prepared enough food for a small army."

"Well," she confessed, "Ron doesn't actually know that Hugo is with me."

"What?" asked Snape, obviously alarmed.

"But it's no big deal. I just picked him up from school for lunch. I'll take him back there when we're done eating. Ron will never know I saw him."

"Miss Granger, listen carefully. You must return Hugo to school this instant. If you took your son without your husband's permission and he catches the two of you together, he could have you arrested for kidnapping!" Snape had spent the better part of both Saturday and Sunday night in the Hogwarts library and knew a great deal about divorce laws at this point. Hermione had indeed made a grave mistake that could very well cost her her freedom.

"Oh, that's ridiculous. I'm his mother. I have a right to see him," Hermione insisted.

"This is not the Muggle world, Miss Granger. You must take him back to school now, before it's too late." Snape had begun to pace the kitchen, becoming more agitated with each step.

With a sudden loud crack, Harry Apparated into the middle of the kitchen floor as Snape passed. They almost collided.

"Oh, thank Merlin you're here." Harry seemed almost frantic.

"Harry, what the..."

"Ron knows you've got Hugo. He's on his way here right now to have you arrested for kidnapping."

"How did he find out?"

"I think he put a tracer on that lizard toy."

"Not Lizzy!" objected Hugo.

"Here, let me see it." Harry grabbed the toy as Hugo objected. "When did its eye go missing?"

"I noticed it yesterday," said Hugo as Harry handed back the toy.

"He must have plucked one of the eye buttons from it after he cast the spell."

"The button probably is set to vibrate or ring if the toy is moved from its rightful place," Snape added.

"This is the first place he'll look for you. You've got to get out of here."

"It won't matter where they go, Potter. If Weasley cast the charm correctly, when he Apparates, the button will bring him wherever the toy is. Just as the Dark Mark would take me straight to the Dark Lord; I didn't need to know where he was."

"Look, we don't have much time. Ron is meeting Lavender to cancel their lunch, and then he'll be here. I can't be seen helping you or he will no longer trust me. It's no fun trying to work both sides of this fence, believe me."

"You don't have to tell me, Potter. I lived it for 16 years, remember?"

"Can you help her, Professor?"

"Don't worry, Potter. I have a plan."

"Thanks. I've got to go." He traded worried glances with Snape and Hermione, and then with a spin and a crack, Harry was gone.

"Hugo, you must trust me. I'll take you someplace safe." Snape reached out his hand to Hugo, who recoiled and ran to his mother's side.

"This is the man who makes your potion, Hugo. He won't hurt you. He's trying to help both of us. Please go with him. You'll be safe with him." She stared longingly into Hugo's frightened eyes.

"Hugo, please. There is no time to waste."

The boy reluctantly let go of his mother and allowed Snape to grasp his hand, at which time Snape pulled him in close.

"Where are you taking him?"

"If you don't know, you can answer truthfully when you are asked."

Hermione nodded.

"Wait here. I'll return as soon as I can."

Suddenly, Hermione heard a loud crack from the sitting room in the front of the house. Her eyes grew wide with fear as she glanced down the hallway, but when she glanced back at Snape, he and Hugo had already silently vanished. She closed her eyes and let out a trembling sigh of relief as she heard Ron's voice say, "I've got you now, Hermione!"