Severus: Release
Chapter 29 of 31
AnastadneHow what was lost might be found, if she's very, very lucky and very, very good.
ReviewedAN: *waves to the readers* Ana here. I give you a whopping 300 words tonight. Seems they require the same energy as 3000 used to once upon a time. *laughs* Many thanks, always, to Ari for beta magic.
Severus' fingers tented into a twisted claw over his heart, tearing his coat's buttons askew. “Release me.” He moved to sit up.
At her hesitation, he looked at her darkly. “Remove the cage.”
Lowered to the floor, the cage faded, and the case settled serenely to Severus' waiting palm.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. Trying in vain, he repeatedly smoothed his hands over the canvas, eyebrows furrowing at the smoldering tears. He had succeeded in mostly taming a portion of his upper corner when a gloved fist slammed down into the center of his world, pinning the canvas to the desktop.
-----
“Severus!” Dumbledore admonished, his gnarled fingers clutching his chair's spires tightly.
But Severus paid no heed to the protests from the endless wall of portraits nor from the tortured canvas turning into peaks and valleys under his gloved hand. Teeth bared, his lips twisted into a grin as he watched Dumbledore's incessantly calm demeanor degrade by the second.
He sensed Hermione's presence behind him, poised, ready.
Roughly setting the case on the desk, Severus leaned over, his hair falling in a wild tangle.
Fingers tracing the ornate carvings, Severus turned to look directly into Hermione's eyes.
And opened the lid.
----
The case sat harmlessly open, its edges coated in blackened blood. Deep within, a fusion of wired light spun furiously, pulsing in a heartbeat's time. When Hermione stepped closer, its speed soared, causing the case to thrum rhythmically against worn wood.
Talking to Dumbledore, yet with his dark eyes fixed on Hermione, Severus spoke.
“I lost everything then – everything but hope. You inadvertently granted me that with this – this protection. I was certain, though, that if anyone could unravel its mystery, it would be Miss-”
Hundreds held their breath in his pause, and living or dead, it mattered not....
“Hermione.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Hide and Seek
112 Reviews | 7.83/10 Average
Please can you add the final chapter or direct me to where else it can be found. We are compiling a list of alternative links for all of the OWL fics due to OWL closing at the end of this month, and I can't find anywhere else that has the full completed story. Thank-you.
Wow, can't wait to see what happens next!
woo
So glad you guys have come back to this story! The way you both play off of one another is such fun to read. I too cannot wait for the next chapter (but I guess I'll have to, won't I? Darnit...) :D
Wow...can't wait for the next chapter.
creepy!
Can one punish a portrait by destroying it?
Are you still working on this story? This isn't quite the end to my opinion, although their using first names is undoubtedly a breakthrough.
Oh good grief. *pulls hair in frustration* more please. btw did you know that clicking where the arrows that send you to the next chapter should be send you absolutely no where. I clicked and clicked in desperate hope.
You gotta be kidding. Why, oh why must you torture us so? Are we not faithful readers? More now, please. (I did say please.)
Burn, Dumbly, burn!
Oh, she'd better say yes!
What a horrid cliffhanger! I insist on believing that things are not as dire as they seem, and that Hermione's love for Severus (coupled by feeding Dumbledore's portrait to Fang 
) will win the day.
But I still want to find out rather quickly.
Oh no, please say he'll be ok.
Oh Gods! Quite dramiatic! What havoc and distruction love has wrought upon the office!
Finally, someone is burning the portrait! Give him hell, Hermione! Make him talk. Justice will be served with a side-order of fries and a fizzy drink, methinks...
We need new chapters. We are fresh out, so I am ordering more. How much for overnight delivery? Two-day? 
Go get him, Severus! Dumbledore's on the run now... grab him, Phineas Nigellus! Put him in a half-nelson! Don't let him leave the room! 
I await Hermione's response breathlessly.
A short chapter, but a powerful one. I can't wait to see how this is going to play out.
Go, Severus! Burn the portrait! You can do it! It will make us all feel better! The readers are behind you all the way!
Burn the portrait, Hermione... go on... you know you want to... and so do we! Do it for the readers! Or at least get Phineas Nigellus to go over there and beat Dumbledore up properly. This is an excellent time to see if one portrait can give another one a black eye or two.
Finally, a visit to Dumbledore for Hermione! I hope she punches his painted nose...
Tell us what it is!!!! 
Of course she used his! Obviously she holds him in high regard, despite (or because of) everything. Now the question is... is her regard for him high enough to fix things which seem to be going rapidly pear-shaped? I think Hermione's feelings for Severus are going to be paramount in importance for this, depending upon what it turns out to be.
I can't believe I've missed these new updates! And I've been keeping half an eye out, too! (obviously I should have used the other half as well...) On the other hand, it means I can find out where they're both going immediately, which is good. Isn't it?
Sounds like things are getting pretty hairy right now... but what the heck's going on with Severus. Somehow I'm sure that hexing Paint-Boy would make things better. Perhaps something fitting and appropriate given the circumstances...
*Works on a spell to transfigure Portrait Dumbledore's background into something from Dante's Inferno*
Sounds like things are getting pretty hairy right now. Hexing Paint-Boy into oblivion certainly couldn't make things worse, now could it?
Oh, Dumbledore left his portrait? or did he jsut flee to another? I think he did leave it for a reason, but was surprised by the recipient? hummm
OOooooo! O_o. pouncing onward ---
About time he stood up for himslef!! Whoot Severus - zap him!!