A Rare Finding

Chapter Five – A Rare Finding

"Harry, dear? Would you go and help Hermione clear out the drawers over there?" Mrs. Weasley asked in an authoritative voice that brooked no argument.

As he moved to join Hermione, Harry had to admit that he had imagined his being at headquarters differently. His best friend started coughing uncontrollably and excused herself to get something to drink. Harry approached the old armoire and opened the top most drawer – empty. The one under the first held a selection of parchment. He rifled through the yellowed page;, most contained long lists of names with a sum of money scribbled behind in an almost childish hand. When Hermione returned, they decided to get rid of the lot. Under the pile of papers, they found a heavy locket which wouldn't open.

~o~o~o~

The insistent pounding got louder with each passing minute. Not opening his eyes, Severus tried to roll over in bed only to collide with something soft and warm; it smelled faintly of peach. He adjusted his position, flinging an arm over it. He had had such a wonderful dream and was determined to get back to it. The hammering wouldn't stop and the warm lump he clutched to his chest started squirming. Soon an elbow made contact with his rips bringing him at last back to consciousness.

"Severus," a sleep-rough voice mumbled. "I think there is someone at the door." As if in confirmation, there came three rapid knocks then silence.

"Oh, shit!" Severus exclaimed. He must have fallen asleep while watching her. 'How did I wind up in her bed?' He shook his head; it was of no importance for the moment. Stumbling out of the small room, he tossed a short, "Go back to sleep," over his shoulder and closed the door.

No way could Hermione sleep now. Her senses were on high alert, and her brain worked furiously, coming up with likely scenarios that could occur when Severus opened the front door. Had somebody discovered her whereabouts? Order Members? Death Eaters? She shivered and reached for her wand, just in case. If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, she would have been angry about the disturbance. She had slept better than in weeks with Severus holding her.

Wait a minute! Severus Snape had been holding her. He had been sleeping next to her in her bed. Had he done so every night? Was that the reason he wanted her to stay? Hermione struggled to process this new information. It wasn't right... He was a grown man. Ron was the one she wanted, he was her age, and she had been attracted to him for a while now. 'Since fourth year,' her inner voice supplied helpfully. And yet, it had felt good to be held by her former teacher. 'No, no! I shouldn't be thinking that. It's wrong, so wrong.' She would confront him and demand an explanation. It wouldn't do to get too attached to someone whose loyalty was so unclear.

~o~o~o~

Bill and Charlie Weasley arrived at the old St Bartholomew's Hospital in London just before nightfall. For three days they had been checking hotels, hospitals, and even shelters for the homeless in and around London, without result. No one had seen the young, brown-haired witch. The two brothers were exhausted from Apparating around the whole day – twice already they had navigated themselves into precarious situations, namely the back yard of a shady little pub where two men had just drawn their knives; and the roof of a private clinic where a helicopter was about to land.

It was those close calls that made them reluctant to continue their fruitless search. Bart's was the last hospital on their long list. If Hermione wasn't here, they decided, they would return to headquarters.

They entered the old building through the visitor's entrance, noticing the striking differences to the other places they had been in the last few days. It was like walking into an old museum or art gallery. Two stunning murals were painted on the walls of the enormous staircase Bill and Charlie were ascending. It took them quite a while to find the actual hospital wards.

The nurse behind the information desk regarded the two men with boredom, her voice sounding cold and professional as she asked them to state their business. Not even glancing at the picture Charlie held out to her, she rifled through her files before shaking her head and turning to the doctor that had just arrived.

That was it, three days of search – nothing found.

"Malfoy? Yes, he had physiotherapy this morning. Strange symptoms he had, severe nerve damage but normal brain functions."

Having overheard the conversation, the two Weasleys eyed each other in silent understanding. They may not have found Hermione, but Malfoy could probably give them some answers.

~o~o~o~

Harry tumbled trough dark nothingness. As the world slowly righted itself, he stared into the eyes of an immensely fat lady who wore an elaborated ginger wig and pink robes. She looked right through him, her gaze wandering between a small jewelled mirror and the ornate clock on her mantle piece. A little house-elf was by her side, complimenting her on her looks. When the doorbell rang, the woman urged the elf to bring her guest into the cramped antique-shop-like room.

And then, Harry watched in rapt attention how the young man lifted a heavy golden locket out of a box inlayed with smooth crimson velvet. "Slytherin's mark," he said quietly.

~o~o~o~

Severus was in a foul mood, and whoever stood in front of his door would be lucky to escape his wrath. For the first time in weeks, he had slept – true he hadn't intended to sleep in Hermione's bed, but she didn't seem to have minded much. He was more than eager to return to her, but first he had to deal with the suicidal person that had started pounding on his door again.

Yanking the door open, he was astonished to see his old friend Lucius Malfoy. "What do you want?"

"I rather not speak about... business while standing in this god-forsaken street," was the unemotional response of the elder Malfoy. Severus stepped back to let the other man pass through to his living area, where the blond immediately went to Severus personal stores to pour himself a brandy.

"I ask again, what do you want here?" Snape questioned in a tight, impatient voice. "It is well past midnight, and I had retired for the night."

Malfoy regarded the other man with interest. To almost everyone, Snape would appear to be his usual snarky self, but Lucius had known the man for a long time. Something was wrong. If he didn't know better, he would say that Snape was more than a little nervous about his visit.

"Well, you realize that this is not just a social call. I know you to be a creature of habit and so wouldn't have disturbed you at this hour if it wasn't important," Malfoy answered in a cool and neutral tone, trying to hide the fact that he was very uncomfortable around the other man. Snape was a strong Legilimens and would easily be able to see that he was on the Dark Lord's use him and kill him list. Lucius wasn't looking forward to the 'festivities', as their master referred to the disposal of traitors or allies who knew too much, like Snape.

"What does he want?" Snape had a bad feeling about the whole situation. Malfoy was usually calm and collected, but not so now. He was playing with the fastenings of his robes and avoided the dark man's eyes. There were two possible explanations for the strange behaviour. Malfoy could have come to ask him to help him or, and Severus internally shuddered to think about it, was here to give him his last chance. Something he needed to do in order to stay alive. Knowing his master, it would be along the lines of kill or be killed.

Five weeks ago, Severus would have taken the draught he kept hidden in an inside of his robes since he had become a spy – it was a potent poison that would kill him in seconds. More than once, he had uncapped it, even brought it to his lips. Something had always held him back.

Thoughts of the young witch in his bed, in his arms, stopped his hands from reaching into the pocket. The reason was not fear of death. He couldn't leave Hermione alone. The house would be searched, as was custom after the death of any associates of the Dark Lord. If they found her here... bile was rose up in his throat. Whatever Lucius wanted him to do, he would go along with it. "Well, what is it that you need, Lucius?"

"Our master has made an interesting discovery. Tell me, Severus, what do you know about the Adficio Affectus?"

A/N: My beta Rhiannon has done a bit of research for me, and found a name for the potion that will play a big part in the story. Its purposes will be explained, but not just now.