Unrest

Lucius sat in his study, pondering his new "toy." He would no doubt enjoy his time breaking her, as he had found out the previous evening. He had enjoyed destroying her innocence, more so when he realized she truly was innocent. He had figured that since she was a dirty Mudblood, she would long ago have passed her trashy self around amongst her friends.

Sitting back in his chair, he wondered what he could do with her once he was bored with her. He wanted to somehow use her against Severus, but he knew that his old protégé had long ago adopted such control and outward calm that it would be hard to make him crack. The only thing Lucius could think of was using her to bring himself higher in the Dark Lord's graces, though it would be tricky. He could reveal his capture and torture of her to their Dark Lord, and after he was rightly punished he could explain his reasoning. He could see it now: You see, my Lord, I can bring her before you at the next meeting. Severus will undoubtedly step forward wanting to "claim" her for himself! In the act of his "rescuing" her, she will grow still closer to him, thus revealing more in the long run about Potter! He smiled as he imagined being rewarded for his cunning, and best of all, if this played out just right and didn't backfire, Severus couldn't do a thing about it except "rescue" her. Or what will be left of her, if anything, when I'm through! he thought with a savage grin.

~{}~

Pain. Soreness. Throbbing. Those were the thoughts that assailed Hermione's mind as she started to come around. She tried not to think of the place other than her back where those words screamed to her. She felt as if every nerve in her body had been cut open. Groaning, she tried to stand up to relieve the numbness in her hands, but she cried out as she felt pain radiate from her feet to between her legs as the muscles tried to brace her body. She whimpered in fear when she heard a malicious chuckle behind her.

Lucius had set wards in the cell to alert him when Hermione was moving around and had walked into the cell quietly, growing excited at the evidence of the obvious pain he had inflicted on her. "Morning, Mudblood. It seems you're ready for some more lessons. I'm sure you just can't wait to truly grasp the knowledge of your place in this world. Let me see what I can do to help you," he said, laughing madly at her uncontrolled sobbing as he started stripping his robes off once more.

~{}~

Severus was deep in thought when he arrived back at Headquarters after having visited the apothecary shop early that morning. He had questioned the shopkeeper thoroughly. He went straight to the kitchen to eat a little breakfast and share his thoughts, or at least a few of them, with his fellow Order members. Again, it was just Molly, Arthur, and Remus. The rest of the members were mostly only present for major meetings once a week, if they were available. They were scattered across the Wizarding world, busy with various jobs and missions, assignments that varied from spying, tracking, recruiting, investigating, and just keeping abreast of things in the course of undercover at jobs at the Ministry as well as other places of importance. Severus filled his plate with a light breakfast after nodding to the others when he entered the room. He ate in silence, mentally going over his words so as not to reveal anything they, meaning Molly mainly, couldn't handle.

He cleared his throat to get their attention as he pushed his plate away from him. "I spent last evening looking over the Death Eater meeting memory closely, and I visited the apothecary shop this morning and questioned the shopkeeper. I believe Hermione was taken shortly after arriving in the meadow, a hour or so after sunset. I have a good idea of who it was that took her, but I won't name the Death Eater to you until I'm sure of it. It would do no good for you to know and dwell on that person anyway.

"I'll do everything I can to discover her whereabouts for sure, as soon as possible. But you know that I can't let it jeopardise my own mission as a spy. She willing disobeyed our wishes, knowing she was walking into danger the second she walked out of this house without at least speaking to us first. She took an oath like the rest of us. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some potions to brew in the mean time. Remus, I need your assistance for a moment, when you're free," he said as he rose from his chair and swiftly left the room. Moments after he entered his lab, having started preparing the ingredients for another try at the Depreciare Potion, he looked up to see Remus enter the room and close the door behind him.

Remus flicked his wand at the door, casting a non-verbal Imperturbable Charm, and turned his attention to Severus. "Please tell me what you left out in the kitchen. I know you know exactly who took her. Tell me what's likely to be happening to her. If we're able to get her back, it will be easier to help her if I'm not shocked by what's happening to her," he said plainly, but his need to know was clear.

Severus nodded in understanding. "I'll bet my wand arm it was Lucius Malfoy who took her. Not directly, but I believe he had Amycus Carrow watching the meadow...Amycus is known to do odd jobs for him. During the revel last night Amycus appeared in the room and whispered something to Lucius that Lucius seemed very happy to hear. He left right away; the timing was perfect. Amycus would have just got done stowing her in the Malfoy Manor dungeons," he said, stopping for a moment as he watched Remus sink down into a chair, his face paling considerably as the information sank in.

"What's that bastard likely to do to her?" he asked, so quietly that Severus was amazed he heard it at all.

"Do you want it sugar-coated or spelled out in detail?" he asked simply, but with an edge to his voice.

"Just spell it out. It's best if I know what to expect," Remus replied with obvious reluctance.

"Lucius loves to play with his victims. Whips, beatings, and rape are his favourite weapons for 'breaking' his toys, especially anyone like Hermione who he considers beneath the use of his powers," Severus said. Anger boiled inside of him as he imagined what would be done to her, what was likely happening to her right now.

"Oh gods!" Remus said as he lowered his head between his knees, fighting the urge to be sick. "Severus, how far will the animal take it? Will she be able to recover?"

Severus thought about it for a moment. "I don't know. We both know she's a very stubborn and strong person, but I honestly never knew a woman to leave his dungeon, if they leave at all, and be the same person ever again," he said, thinking hard about Hermione's character. "I imagine she'll close up inside of herself to some extent, if not completely. Lucius thrives on a challenge such as her resolve will present. But maybe, if we get her back, she will recover. She'll never be the same again...you can bet she'll never be the young woman that she was before...but maybe she'll be able to function, and find a little happiness in the end. She's a brave and stubborn Gryffindor, after all." Sighing, and pinching his nose against the headache that was forming, he continued. "The best thing will be for her to have work to do, to help her ignore the worst of the pain. I will engage her in her lessons when she is able. I'll keep her so busy she'll be able to acclimate herself to life again through keeping to a routine. I swear I will do everything I can if we find her."

They were both quiet for a few moments as they thought about Hermione. Suddenly Remus broke the unsettling silence and said quietly but resolutely, "I'll speak to Arthur; he would be the best person to break this to Molly. I suggest we don't tell anyone else, especially Harry and Ron. They would cut their search short to look for Hermione, and she wouldn't want them to stop their mission for her. We can warn them when they get home what the situation is, whether or not we have her by then." He pulled himself out of the chair and left the lab, shoulders hanging low as he fought the urge to cry.

Severus stared at the door. Stupid little chit! She should have waited! What the hell was she thinking? Severus screamed to himself, sweeping the ingredients and tools off the surface of the table with a sudden vicious swipe. He gripped the edge of the table with knuckles that whitened from the strength of his grip. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself, and his grip started to loosen. Nothing can be accomplished by a tantrum. I need to concentrate on what I can do to help the foolish little know-it-all, he lectured himself. He waved his wand to place the tools in the cauldron, where he sterilised them. With another wave it was filled with water and set to boil over the roaring fire. He turned to the ingredients that lay scattered on the floor, waved his wand with a non-verbal "Evanesco!" cursing at the waste that he Vanished. He conjured a piece of parchment and a quill after steering his mind into "useful" mode and started a list of the potions he assumed she would need immediately if he was able to rescue her. He wanted to make sure she would live, and being prepared for the worst was the best he could do for her at the moment.

~{}~

A day went by. Then a week. Before anyone knew it, Hermione had been gone for a little over three months. Remus, Molly, and Arthur were devastated, wondering if she was gone forever; Severus listened to everything around him when he was in the company of Death Eaters, hoping to hear something that might help him in rescuing Hermione.

~{}~

Lucius steeled himself as he made his way to the main chamber to reveal his capture and plan to the Dark Lord. He was quite peeved that his fun was somewhat hampered by the Mudblood's near catatonic state, though the fact that he had broken her was a victorious memory that made him smile. The Dark Lord had responded quickly to his letter sent by owl, asking for a private audience. He knew he would be punished for this but hoped that in the end it would justify his means. He entered the room and bowed, then knelt to kiss his Dark Lord's hem.

"Rise. What is it you wished to tell me that required a private meeting? It had better be good," the Dark Lord hissed.

"My Lord, I have captured someone useful to our cause. I realise I will be punished for my forthrightness and for proceeding as I have without permission, but if I may, I have an idea of how she can be quite useful," he said, fear evident in his voice.

"You have gone against my wishes? In what manner?" the Dark Lord said, anger at the Death Eater before him causing his eyes to glow a violent red.

"M-my Lord, three months ago I captured Hermione Granger, Potter's Mudblood friend," Lucius said cautiously, dropping to kiss the Dark Lord's robes once again. Before he could go on, he screamed out as a powerful Cruciatus wracked his body with pain. After a few moments of the spell, he was released from its grip and, panting, he chanced a look at his master's face, wondering if he was permitted to continue. "D-during the past three m-months I have tortured and raped her many times. She has been broken. I-I have thought a-about this thoroughly, and I believe my actions may be of help to our noble cause. She is Severus's apprentice, and if she were to be 'rescued' by him, she might be more r-receptive to his efforts to gain information from Potter, once she recovers." Again he was sent writhing to the floor, the Cruciatus robbing him of the ability to breathe. He collapsed in a limp heap when the spell was lifted once again, fighting the urge to cry as the tremors continued to roll throughout his body.

"Look at me!" the Dark Lord hissed. He invaded Lucius's mind immediately and brutally. He watched Lucius' memories of the past three months and snarled as he discovered his servant's deepest thoughts, his personal vendettas that so clearly showed disrespect and disobedience toward his master. When his every thought had finally been looked over, Voldemort retreated from his mind, furious. "If it were not for your contacts in the Ministry, I would kill you right now. Very well, we will go through with this idea. If it fails to work, I will kill you anyway, very slowly, Lucius. I do not like my servants to disobey me. You will summon Severus before me, and we will discuss this further. Go," he said quietly, rage evident in his hissed command. Lucius lowered his shaking body to kiss his hem once more and grunted as his head was roughly kicked away. He picked himself up and left the room quickly to do as his master bade him. At least I'm alive, he thought bitterly.

He owled Severus and waited at the entrance of the Death Eater dungeons. For an hour he sat on the bottom stone step trying to relax, the tremors slowly subsiding. He looked up when he heard the cellar door open and watched with loathing as Severus walked slowly down the stairs. Lucius stood up shakily as he came face to face with Severus. "Took you long enough. Our lord awaits us," he said through clenched teeth as he headed back to the main chamber with Severus in tow. They both bowed and kissed Voldemort's hem, then stood and gave him their utmost attention.

"My Lord, what is it you bid me to do for you?" Severus asked him, making sure he sounded eager and willing.

"Why did you not tell me that Hermione Granger was missing, Severus?" Voldemort asked him.

Severus controlled his shock as he realised what was going on. "My Lord, forgive me. Those ridiculous Order members didn't even notify me for days as to her absence. I had assumed she was off somewhere researching; she mentioned as much the day before she left the Order's Headquarters. She was quite adamant about her research, and I didn't want to waste my time hunting her down to see what had happened to her. I was concentrating my efforts on the Depreciare Potion, my Lord. I accept any punishment you deem necessary for my lack of obedience in not informing you of this," he said as he knelt on the floor, expecting the worst.

There was a tense, silent moment as the Dark Lord considered him. "Look at me, Severus," he said evenly, but the command was clear. Severus lifted his eyes, having already shielded his mind with the convincing memories that proved his loyalty, and his regret in disobeying his master, firmly in view. "Very well. I can see the truth plainly, and I hold you to be not at fault. It is your brother Lucius who is at fault, and you will be permitted to punish him for his theft of your apprentice."

"Thank you, my Lord," Severus replied humbly, kissing his master's hem.

"Rise, Severus," Voldemort hissed softly. "Your brother has developed a plan to rectify his mistake, and his life will depend on the usefulness of this plan. This evening you will both agree on a time for Severus's arrival and rescue of the Mudblood. I give you free rein to do whatever comes to mind to rescue her as you walk in on Lucius toying with her. Just don't make the damage permanent...I need him functioning again soon," he said. Turning his face toward Lucius, he continued, "I will decide what further punishments you are to receive before the next meeting," he said coldly, turning back to Severus. "I assume you are quite close to finishing the Depreciare Potion. I trust you can accomplish that as well as conditioning the Mudblood to heal and open up to you exclusively. Now both of you, make your arrangements for this evening. Leave me!" he said, his rage evident in his tone.

~{}~

Severus seethed with anger, but he was also relieved that he would be able to bring Hermione home at last. He focused on containing his anger for the moment, content that he would be able to release it fully when he arrived to rescue her. When they reached the Apparation point, he turned to Lucius. "You will not touch her again. When I arrive in an hour, I assume at the Malfoy dungeons, you will be attacking her verbally only. I imagine you have played with her enough already," he said stiffly.

"See you in my dungeons in an hour then, Severus. Look at it this way...if you ever get the urge to play with her yourself, at least her innocence will no longer be a reason to restrain yourself, as noble as you tend to be," he said with a smirk, and he Disapparated before Severus could start doling out punishment right then and there. Severus cursed and dug his fingernails into his palms as he clenched his hands in anger before Apparating to Grimmauld Place. He had to ready things for Hermione's "homecoming".

A/N: Please read and review! *HUGS*