Reactions & Success

Harry and Ron were both speechless as they sat there, absorbing the horrible memory. With a sudden rush of anger, Ron leaped off of the bed and rushed down the stairs. He was almost out the back door when Molly hailed him. "Ron, where are you going at this hour? You aren't due to be at the Manor until ten."

Ron stopped and looked back at his mom. Molly grew worried, as she perceived the look of fury that emboldened her son's face. "Ronald, what's wrong?" she asked as Harry came running down the stairs after hurrying through putting on his shoes to catch up to Ron.

Harry walked over to Ron and answered for him. "We're going to confront Hermione. We know what happened to her, and we want to know what's been done about it...besides her keeping it from us!"

Molly paled and sat down. "Harry, Ron, you can't confront Hermione. It was her express wish that you not know, at least not yet. It was her wish to not tell you, not only for her own peace of mind but also for your own. She didn't want you two to do anything... rash."

"What has been done, then? Is Lucius dead?" Ron asked, his voice trembling.

"I believe Severus has taken care of things as best he could. It's a delicate situation all around...Severus has to protect his status, so he couldn't kill Lucius. Lucius is too well protected otherwise," Molly answered carefully, gauging their responses. They looked even angrier.

Harry and Ron went straight for the Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. First Ron, then Harry stepped into the green flames and shouted, "Prince Manor!"

~{}~

"Harry? Ron? What's happened? Are you okay?" Remus asked when he got a good look at their expressions as they stepped out of the flames and carelessly dusted off some of the soot.

Harry didn't even bother to answer but pulled out his wand and sent his Patronus out of the room at breakneck speed. Ron paced back and forth in front of the fireplace.

"Harry?" Remus asked again.

"We'll wait for Snape to get here. I want to speak to him about this since we've been told he was the one to take care of things, as best he could!"

"Ron, what's going on?" asked a frustrated Remus, turning to Ron in an attempt to get some information.

"I'm with Harry...we wait for him," Ron spat in reply.

~{}~

Hermione and Severus were just about to start the process of combining their successful Avada base with the Bottled Love when suddenly a stag Patronus leapt into the room and opened its mouth wide with a furious sounding, "Snape, get up here right now!"

Hermione's eyes widened as she listened to the angry resonance of Harry's voice giving such a message. "Wh-what's the matter? Should I come up too?" she asked, worry and suspicion clouding her thoughts. She just knew that it was about what had happened to her.

Severus put down the phial he was holding and swept toward the door. "No. I'll handle this...whatever it may be. I'll be back shortly," he replied as he left the room, unconditional fury etched on his face at the interruption.

~{}~

Moments later he entered the room where Harry and Ron waited and slammed the door behind him. He looked as if he could kill them on the spot as he spat, "What in Merlin's name is the meaning of this? Hermione and I were about to start the process of combining the two bases together...a very dangerous step that must not be interrupted. You could have killed us! I specifically stated that no one was to interrupt us today unless the Dark Lord himself was attacking!"

"What happened to Lucius Malfoy after he... assaulted... Hermione? How has he been punished?" Harry demanded, without a single care for Severus' temper.

Severus looked taken aback for a moment. But he was still furious, even more so now that he understood why they had summoned him. "I don't have time for this. Let's just say he'll never again enjoy the company of a woman. That is, at least until he's killed in the final battle...which is one of my personal goals on that eventful day."

Ron looked at Severus and nearly screamed. "You castrated him? That's all? Why didn't you kill him?"

"You stupid child, I did not castrate him. I gave him a potion that in essence kills his libido permanently. And no, I did not kill him because frankly I do not seek death for myself so willingly. To kill him now would be suicide. And I regret that I even have to remind you how keeping me alive is an advantage to us all!"

"Then tell us where we can get to him! We'll do it!" Harry said forcefully.

"Don't be so blatantly immature, Mr. Potter. Surely you realize how well protected Malfoy is. The Dark Lord himself stays at that Manor now and then. He created the wards, which allow only those he chooses to enter the grounds at Malfoy Manor, wards that hold unauthorized trespassers in place. A Cruciatus curse is tied to those wards that can not be released until Malfoy or the Dark Lord himself arrives to see who's been caught. Needless to say, anyone caught in that web will wish they'd been caught because if no one is home they will die of the Cruciatus curse! Furthermore, Malfoy is constantly surrounded by other Death Eaters. So by all means, if you wish for death, give it a try. Otherwise you'll have to wait in line at the final battle to be done with him!" Severus bellowed at them.

"Why do you suddenly care so much? When did you start to care about anyone at all besides yourself?" asked Ron, his face red with anger.

Severus slowly walked toward Ron, a malicious smile twisting his face when he saw the fear in Ron's eyes as he was marched backward into a wall. Severus raised his hand and clasped it tightly around Ron's throat. Harry and Remus started to pry Severus's hand away from Ron, but Severus had put up a shield charm with his free hand too quickly for them to even finish their first steps.

"Don't you dare question me in such a way ever again! I have given my life, and more than your little brain could ever comprehend, to the cause of bringing that bastard down. And if you value your life, you will refrain from running off to attempt to murder Lucius Malfoy. You will not go anywhere near Hermione until you calm down and can speak with her without showing off your utter ignorance and disregard for decent behavior! Do you understand me, Mr. Weasley?" Severus said through clenched teeth. He glared at Harry, next to Ron, and asked him, "Do you understand as well, Mr. Potter?"

Ron nodded his head, avoiding Severus's intense glare. Harry nodded as well.

"Good. Now do not disturb me again unless someone is bleeding to death...or about to be," Severus snapped as he released both his hold on Ron's neck and the shield charm and left the room.

Remus, Harry, and Ron were all quiet for several moments after Severus' departure. "Next time, please speak with me first; that way we can avoid scenes like the one we just witnessed," Remus said carefully as he poured himself a glass of Firewhisky.

Harry and Ron finally sat down. "Fine. Tell us what you know. Are there any lasting... injuries?" Harry asked cautiously.

"If I tell you, will you both promise to keep it to yourselves? Hermione has not shared information about her injuries and the after-effects of her capture with the Order. I'm sure she would still rather not talk about it at all, even if you do know what happened," Remus said. When Harry and Ron both gave him their word, he spelled out in detail everything that had happened, from the moment they realized Hermione was missing to the moment Remus found her asleep in the library after she found out she would never have children.

Harry asked lots of questions, and so did Ron. But after it was mentioned that she could no longer have children, Ron grew quiet and left the talking to Harry and Remus. Harry barely noticed his reaction, but Remus did. It was with a frown on his face that he watched Ron leave the room with Harry so they could start their work on the Portkeys for the day.

~{}~

Severus watched Hermione as she chewed her lip nervously while she brewed what appeared to be another batch of the Bottled Love potion. He cleared his throat as he stepped into the room and stated, "I've taken care of the disturbance upstairs. If they know what's good for them, no one will interrupt us again while we attempt to combine the two bases."

"Severus, what did they want? Do...do they know?" Hermione asked, afraid of the answer.

Severus walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, albeit a bit awkwardly. "Hermione, they were going to find out sooner or later. I believe I got through to them, and I don't think they'll go off and do anything rash. I'm sure you'd rather they had found out another way, but Lucius is a very sadistic bastard who will pay for his crimes when the time is right."

Hermione paled. "Lucius was the one to tell them? I thought one of the Order members must have slipped! How did he tell them? Are they okay?"

"Calm down, he sent them a... memory of your capture, in a phial," Severus replied carefully. When she started to cry, he carefully folded her in his arms and just let her cry. As tears poured down her face, soaking the front of his robes, Severus mentally formed a plan to deal with Lucius the next time he was summoned.

After Hermione composed herself, they quietly set about the dangerous task of combining the Avada Base and the Bottled Love.

After two explosions and several melted cauldrons, at four in the morning they finally completed the Avada Bomb successfully. After checking the potion before them, glowing a blinding green color, Hermione squealed and threw her arms around Severus in celebration of their accomplishment. "It's ready! It's going to work, I know it!"

Severus chuckled. "First, I think we should take a small sample and try it out on someone. That way we can be sure it does work before we risk the lives of everyone in the Order."

"You're right, but who?" Hermione asked, frowning as she wondered who they could test it on.

Severus smirked as he set about cleaning up their mess and tidying the lab. "I know the perfect people to test this on. I'll let you know after the next time I'm summoned, and then we'll set up the test in a place where no one will witness it. We wouldn't want the Dark Lord to hear of it. Let's get things cleaned up so we can get a few hours of sleep. I'm sure the Order will want to know about our success so far at tonight's meeting."

Together they finished cleaning the lab and putting things away. After a fairly long goodnight kiss, they both separated and went to their respective beds for a little rest...Hermione with thoughts of Severus and Harry and Ron, Severus with thoughts of his plan to test the potion and get back at Lucius for upsetting Hermione.

A/N:Sorry for the shortness... but this was the place to end the chapter! Please remember to review! *Hugs*