Taking Care of His Own

Disclaimer: It's not my creation, but I do enjoy manipulating things. No money for me though. Enjoy.

A big thanks will always go to my lovely beta, Charmed_Nay, and cheers go to my friends over at Potter_Place.

"Where are we?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded to the small building in front of them. "We're out back. He's got a jinx that won't allow us to Apparate inside." Together, they moved forward and checked on either side of the building for anyone that might be about. "I don't see anyone. Let's take the cloak off."

"No, Harry, we can't. If Snape, Dumbledore, or an Auror see us, we'll be in trouble!"

"There is no one about. Don't you think someone would be back here guarding if anyone were here? Besides, I doubt Bill is home. He's likely out looking for who did this or is at the infirmary with Fleur."

"I thought we were to just look around. It's not so much trouble to keep the cloak on." She elbowed him slightly. "Don't want to be too close to me, eh?"

Harry grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course I don't mind being close to you. I just want to find her and be able to move about freely. We can put it back on straightaway if we see or hear anything." He sighed. "You keep the cloak then. I'll get out from under it."

Hermione, completely exasperated, yanked the cloak off. "There. Happy now?"

Harry nodded and took the cloak and her hand. "Come on." He led her to the rear stairway. "It's right up here," he said, letting go of her. Just as he stepped on the first step, two things happened almost simultaneously. A faint pop sounded, and there was a shout of, "Stupefy!"

Ducking down to avoid a hex, Harry drew his wand and looked around. "Bill!"

"Harry! What are you doing here?"

"What the hell was that? Hex now and ask later?"

Bill Weasley smiled sheepishly. "I just rounded the corner and saw someone. I guess I didn't think." His smile faded. "You've found out, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Harry said quietly. "I'm sorry about Fleur." He moved down to stand near Bill. "Tell me about Gabrielle, Bill. What happened? The truth if you don't mind."

"All of her things are still here," he said, nodding to the building. "There was a big struggle in her room. Fleur was hexed badly and left for... dead. No sign of Gabrielle. Her room is just as she left it. I know she didn't willingly go with them. She must have been with Fleur when they came in." He leaned against the wall. "We know there were two of them. One did some nasty handiwork on Fleur, and the other seemed interested in destroying furniture, decorations, and dishes."

"Does Fleur remember anything? Maybe she saw their faces?"

"All she said was that there were two dressed in black, and she keeps calling out for Gabrielle. Her mind is still addled, but she'll come round," Bill said, trying to be positive.

"It didn't sound like Madame Pomfrey wanted to keep her at Hogwarts."

"Not initially, no," Bill agreed. "But Dumbledore says Poppy is capable of treating her, what with the potions Snape gave her. She'll be back to good soon."

"Hermione and I couldn't stay away," Harry admitted. "Thought we could find some clue as to what happened." He turned around, and his gut clenched. "Hermione?" She was nowhere in sight. A feeling of dread crept up his spine. "Oh, no."

"Hermione was with you?" Bill asked, looking around. "I came around just as you Apparated in."

"What? No, we'd been here before then," Harry said, moving to the other side of the building to look around. "Hermione!" he called. "It's not funny! Come out."

"You were alone when I saw you, Harry." Bill looked worried. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Mione!" Harry yelled, panicking. "Shite!" If something happened to her because he couldn't wait for news, he'd never forgive himself. He should have listened to her when she asked him to stay at Hogwarts or at least when she asked him to keep the cloak on. He would have noticed if something had happened to her that way. How could she have disappeared without a trace with him standing right in front of her? Why did I not keep holding her hand? This is my fault.

"Maybe she went on up," Bill offered, looking at the door on top of the stairway.

"No, Bill, she didn't pass. We would have seen or heard her." Harry started up the stairs nonetheless. He had to find her. He couldn't lose her as well. Gabrielle's loss was hard enough, but losing Hermione would be devastating. Aside from that, Snape would kill him. Finding no trace of her, Harry leaned against a wall and slid down, head in his hands. "This just can't be happening."

"Maybe she went back to your secret location or to Hogwarts. I did truly hear an Apparition just before I rounded the corner." He squatted down next to Harry. "Check at the castle and talk to the headmaster first."

Harry nodded. "I'm going."

"I'll come, too," Bill said, extending a hand to help Harry up. "We'll find her. Both of them."

Pulling on his Invisibility Cloak, Harry followed Bill back outside where they decided to have one more look around before they had to Apparate to the gates of Hogwarts. "I just don't understand. She was right there. I let her hand go, heard the sound of an Apparition, and you shouted a hex! There was nobody else with us or around."

Bill paused. "Look!" He pointed to the slush. "A footprint! I don't think Hermione wears boots that big. Does she?"

Harry paled and pointed through the opening of his cloak. "Not even close. Look at that little one there. That's Hermione's. Shite! Someone must have... grabbed her."

"We need the headmaster," Bill said. "Someone else was here. Either in a cloak like yours or Disillusioned. Damn." Both Disapparated immediately.

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Hermione struggled against the thick arms that were holding her prisoner. One hand was over her mouth, keeping her from calling for help. "Hold still, girl," the man said angrily, tightening his hold and nearly cutting off her air. "Get her wand! Check her pockets." This order was given to someone else. Another person stepped out from the shadows.

It was Narcissa Malfoy. The woman began checking her pockets. Hermione tried to squirm away, but it was no use. The man holding her wouldn't allow much movement.

"Got it," Narcissa said, putting the wand within her own robes. She shook her head in disgust as she looked at Hermione through narrowed eyes. "What in the world would he see in this?" She grabbed a handful of Hermione's hair and pulled roughly. "I wonder if we should keep her alive. Perhaps Severus would be willing to guarantee Draco's life for hers."

Hermione's eyes widened, and dread filled her body. They intended to kill her. Why? What had she done to them? Harry. This was all about Harry. The man holding her suddenly threw her to the ground. She landed oddly and felt a sharp pain explode in her arm as the bone broke. "Ahhh," she cried out, tears immediately filling her eyes and streaming down her face. She clutched at it only to cry out again. Nothing humorous about breaking your humerus bone, she thought sarcastically, as she bit her lip in attempt to calm herself.

Through the blurred wetness, she could see Narcissa grinning. "Serves you right, Mudblood," she said coldly. She looked to the man. "What do you think?"

"I say let me kill her. We don't want to risk him finding out what we've done."

"If there is a chance that I can save Draco his father's fate..."

"Draco is all right," Hermione said, hoping to get Narcissa to talk the man into keeping her alive. Severus would come for her. He would know where to find her. She only needed a few more minutes. Surely Harry would go to him and tell him of her disappearance. She'd known that Narcissa Malfoy was as cold and haughty as her husband, but she prayed that she wasn't also a killer. Maybe something inside of the woman would force her to help Hermione live. If Draco were her weak spot, Hermione would use it.

"Ha! Snape probably killed him, too," the man said. "He's probably looking down with Lucius now and hoping we kill her... and make her scream whilst doing so."

"Rodolphus!" Narcissa snapped. "Don't you dare say it!" She knelt next to Hermione. "What do you know?"

Not wanting to give away that Severus knew where Draco was, she said, "Harry told me that he knows where Ginny and Draco are. I've exchanged owls with Ginny. They are alive and well."

Narcissa looked up to Rodolphus who was shaking his head. "Don't believe her," he said gruffly. "She's just telling you what you want to hear." He pushed Hermione roughly with his foot, eliciting a scream of pain as her broken arm moved about.

"Bloody fucking stop that," she bit out. "Please."

He did it again, laughing with glee. "Scream. It's what I want to hear."

"Oh, enough," Narcissa said in annoyance. "I don't care if she lives or dies, but I would like to be able to sleep tonight. Replaying this in my mind won't be pleasant. Leave her be." She walked over and sat in a chair. "How can I know you are telling the truth?"

Swallowing, Hermione asked, "How do I know Harry is all right? How do I know that someone didn't snatch him as well?"

Rodolphus laughed loudly, moving over to sit with Narcissa. "Potter is for the Dark Lord to kill. We didn't touch him. It's you we're after."

Hermione nodded in understanding. "Harming me will harm Harry."

This time Narcissa laughed. "This, girl, is about Severus and what he did to us!"

Her blood ran cold. I'm not a target because of Harry. It's because of Severus. I can't say anything, or he may be killed. "What about him? What did he do?"

"He killed my husband," Narcissa said heatedly. "Lucius, one of his oldest friends, died by his hand! He betrayed us after all we've done for him!"

"And my brother was killed because of him," Rodolphus put in.

Hermione knew that Lucius lived and was simply being hidden away. She couldn't say anything though because if word got back to the Dark Lord, then Severus would be the one that paid the price. All of his work for the Order would be lost, and it might ultimately cause Harry to lose in the end. She'd die before she set things right. She'd made a pact with Harry. Until the end it would be.

"What? Nothing to say in his defense?" Narcissa goaded. Within seconds, Hermione watched her proud, artfully made-up face contort in sorrow as she began to tear up. "No matter what Lucius did, I love him. My son loved him."

"Good man, Lucius," Rodolphus commented. "My brother tried to tell the Dark Lord that Snape was working against us, but our Lord wouldn't have it. Killed Rabastan instead." He pulled a long knife from the table next to his chair. "I have a certain way that I like doing things. Don't always have the time to do it though." He leered at her wickedly. "But today I shall take that time."

"You're going to st-stab me?" Hermione asked, eyes wide, fear evident. This was not how she expected to meet her end. She'd always thought that they would all grow old together, dying when their bodies tired of life and after they'd accomplished many things. Or... if she had to die young, she imagined a Killing Curse being the tool used against her.

Rodolphus looked at his knife affectionately. "Stab is such a nasty word." He kissed the shiny blade. "I'd like to think of myself as an artist. Carving is a specialty of mine, you see. I think it's time that I created a masterpiece. You can be part of that."

Narcissa began sobbing more loudly. "Stop. Don't."

"Shhh, Cissy," he said. "You don't have to watch or listen to her screams."

"Dr-Draco won't come back if something happens to me," Hermione blurted, seeing an opening. Both looked at her. "He and Ginny are lovers, and she is one of my best friends. He'll know that you did this and not come back." Her words were directed to the crying Narcissa in hopes of swaying her. "Please."

This time, Rodolphus snarled, "Shut your mouth! They'll never know we did this. Do you think we want the Dark Lord to know? He'll have us killed for disobeying his orders."

"How can you prove that he lives and that you are telling the truth?" Narcissa asked. "I just don't believe he would side with a Weasley over his father."

"He took her so that his father wouldn't hurt her and so that the Dark Lord wouldn't find her. They were in a cave near Hogsmeade for a while, and then, they moved to a flat in the village. They tried to get money from Gringotts, but Bill Weasley spotted them. Draco has a fake account there, thanks to a bet he won with a goblin. Bill... er... followed them and brought them someplace where only Harry knows. It's the truth. He is alive. You can check it out."

Looking to her brother-in-law, Narcissa said, "Perhaps we should just ask around. Maybe we can work something out with Snape to find Draco."

"No. We can find him on our own, Cissy. If Snape finds out, he will kill us whether we've touched her or not." He sighed. "Don't tell me you've changed your mind. He KILLED your husband and as good as killed my brother!"

"I don't want to die," Hermione pleaded pitifully, seeing that the woman was undecided. She'd never been more frightened in her life.

"Neither did Lucius!" Rodolphus yelled.

"No," Narcissa began, "he didn't, but I don't think I can go through with it. We can just keep her down here. Nobody will ever know."

"Cissy, I'm going to do what I have to do." He pointed his wand at her. "Stupefy! The jet of light hit her before she could move. She slumped down and fell from her chair onto the floor.

Hermione sucked in a deep breath and started crying silently. Severus would be too late. Her only ally, if you could call it that, was now gone. Thoughts of her grandparents, her parents, and her childhood filled her mind. They had always worried for her when she became part of the Wizarding world, never understanding it. They would be so disappointed in her. She'd never fully explained how things were going. She'd lied to them about her plans for Christmas, about other things as well. She thought of Ron and how his ears turned as red as his hair when he was angry or embarrassed. She thought of Harry's beautiful green eyes. "Oh, Harry, no," she mumbled. This would be too much for him. Would it keep him from doing what he needed to do? Would Severus guide him? Severus! She began sobbing in earnest. As Rodolphus neared, she shut her eyes, not wanting to see him. Instead, she concentrated on her memories of Severus...those dark eyes gazing at her intently, the feel of becoming one with him, the rare affectionate smile that he would sometimes give her, the silkiness of his voice, the graceful gait he glided about the castle with, and so many other things that she loved.

"Now, be a good girl," Rodolphus whispered excitedly. "Let's hear you scream." She felt a tug at her arm and heard the ripping of fabric. She screamed as loudly as she could. Not that anyone would hear her and be able to help.

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Severus entered the grounds with Dumbledore after another fruitless search for Potter's girlfriend. He looked off in the direction of Hagrid's old hut and saw Grubbly-Plank running about with Fang giving chase. "Really," he said indignantly. "I thought her to be more..." His words trailed away as he saw a tight-lipped McGonagall heading them off. Something was wrong.

"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked immediately.

"Potter and Granger were here. I don't know where they came from, but as Poppy and I were talking, they came running up. He was demanding that we tell him about Bill Weasley and his family." She looked between the two of them. "They ran out and Disapparated before either of us could catch them," she admitted, looking disappointed. "I tried to get them to wait, but you know how Potter is when he is of the mind to check into something."

"Impudent little bastard," Severus swore, causing McGonagall's brows to rise to her hairline.

"Now, hold on, Severus," Dumbledore said. "Where are you going? You don't know where they are off to. Let me Floo headquarters first."

"Hermione doesn't need to be out of the castle. I don't give a fuck about Potter," Severus said angrily. "I told you to ward them in! He can't be trusted to keep his arse where it belongs!"

McGonagall's mouth was hanging open as she tried to make sense of what he said. The headmaster was about to speak when the stomping of feet from behind them interrupted.

"Weasley! Potter!" Severus said, moving forward. He looked around. "Where is she?"

"Gone! Disappeared from right behind me," Potter said between breaths, dropping his cloak to the ground.

Without waiting to hear the rest, Severus turned and hurried away towards the castle. He could hear them all calling behind him and talking excitedly, but he didn't care. He knew how to find her, and he had to do it quickly before she was harmed. Who would dare do this? Who would dare snatch his witch? He'd deal with Potter later. Bastard! This is his fault.

"Accio parchment!" he said immediately upon entering his rooms. Zooming to his hand quickly, he intoned, "Locus Hermione!"

Currently in the second dungeon of Malfoy Manor with Rodolphus Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy... in pain.

"Bloody fucking hell," he mumbled. He'd only been in there once many years earlier. He hoped that nothing had changed. Otherwise, he'd be Apparating dangerously and could possibly be killed. Who would save Hermione then?

In pain. They were hurting her. Why? Realization hit him. She was being punished for things he'd done. Who had ordered this? The Dark Lord seemed anything but displeased. No, this was something personal. He would kill them for it. The both of them.

Rushing back out, he met up with the others near the front entrance. "Out of my way," he said hurriedly.

"We need to find her," Potter said, trying to pull on his arm.

"I am going to get her now," Severus replied, glaring darkly at him and shrugging away.

"Wait! If you know where she is, I want to come! I can help."

"You've helped enough already, Potter! Leading her from the castle for starters," he yelled. "I haven't time for this."

Dumbledore had to restrain Harry to keep him from following. After he passed the main gate, he concentrated and Disapparated to what he hoped would be the right place. After only a moment of disorientation, he heard a bone-chilling scream that could only belong to his Hermione. He ran forward, wand drawn.

She was huddled in the middle of the room on the floor, and Rodolphus Lestrange hovered over her with only his knife drawn. The man noticed him just as he entered, but he wasn't quick enough to get his wand. Severus disarmed him easily and sent a silent spell to slam him against the wall, knocking him momentarily unconscious.

"Hermione," he said, kneeling and trying to pull her up. She began sobbing and yelping in pain. "What has he done to you?"

"M-my arm is broken," she said in a raspy voice.

There was a little blood on her arm where he'd skimmed her skin as he sliced through her sleeve. "You'll be all right," he said. "Bones and abrasions mend."

Her pupils were dilated, her eyes red and puffy, her face streaked with tears and dirt. "It hurts. I was so afraid. He wanted to kill me. Cut... cut me up." She swallowed thickly and added, "Artwork."

Severus was all too familiar with Rodolphus' hobby, having seen it many times before. He looked down at his witch and took in her disheveled state. Her voice and the way she looked pulled at his heart. He'd intended to kill her. He'd hurt her, and for that, he would pay with his life. The moment he heard a groan, he raised his head, and something inside of him snapped. "Rodolphus," he snarled. "Time to meet your brother."

He stood, leaving Hermione whimpering behind him, and strode over to his one time friend. "How dare you touch what's mine, you bastard? Did you do this on orders?"

"Snape, wait. Let's make a deal," Rodolphus said, rising and holding his hands up in front of him.

"Were you making a deal with my concubine when you put your blade through her clothing?" Severus asked, pointing his wand menacingly. "Speak now."

"Don't tell the Dark Lord about this Snape. We just wanted you to lose someone the way we have," Rodolphus pleaded. "Wait. Wait."

Severus strode forward, swished his wand violently, and thought, Sectumsempra!

A large gash appeared in the man's face, and he instantly grabbed at his face, hollering in pain. Severus repeated the spell, causing another gash to appear. This time it was across his chest. When the man yelled again, Severus laughed and said, "Oh, the irony of it all. Here I have a man that gets aroused from hearing the screams of others and seeing their blood induced by his blade. Does your own turn you on?"

"You bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill your bit..."

"Wrong answer, dear friend," Snape said, smiling in amusement. Twice more, he lashed out. This time his foe fell and writhed upon the floor. Not to let the man move away and die without goading him, Severus hurried over, pulled the man up by the throat, and said, "Shall I send regards to your dear widow, Rodolphus?"

"Sn-Snape, you fucking bastard, I should have killed you instead."

"You're too slow and not clever enough. I win again," Severus said, tugging at the man's neck in one precise movement. The resounding snap surprised him. It had gone too silent for his liking. What had changed? He spun around to see Hermione, eyes wide with shock, scooting back.

"You killed him!" she blurted.

"I did," he said, wiping his hands on a handkerchief he pulled from his robes and tossing it onto Rodolphus' body when he was done. He made his way back to her and hated the way she cringed when his hand touched her cheek. "What is it?"

"But... you killed him." She moved her face away.

He hadn't meant to kill him in such a way, especially not with her watching. He hadn't been able to control his emotions. "Hermione, I won't hurt you. Never you. He deserved to die. He would have killed you. If I hadn't finished him today, we would have been looking over our shoulders for him to attack us again."

She rocked back and forth, crying silently. He reached out to touch her again, but a gasp from the other side of the room caused him to rise quickly and point his wand. "Don't do it, Narcissa!" He had been uncertain as to what was wrong with her, but he should have been more careful. Now, he had a wand pointed at him.

"You killed Lucius," she accused. "And Rodolphus!"

"Do you think to take on me in a duel, Narcissa?"

"Did you kill Draco?" she asked, wand shaking.

"I did not kill Draco," he said evenly. "Put your wand away."

From behind him, Hermione said, "I tried to tell her that Draco is alive."

"Is it true?" she asked anxiously, looking back and forth between them.

In this moment, Severus neatly disarmed her, surprised that two wands flew to him. He recognized one as Hermione's. "Now that I have your attention," he said in a bored voice, "you might care to know that your son is fine. However, after seeing how you've conspired with your dear sister's husband to harm my concubine, he shan't remain so."

Narcissa charged him and tried to beat on him with her fists. "You've taken Lucius from me, and now, you want to harm Draco. Draco who adores you...always has! Lucius has always been here for you. What did we ever do to deserve this treachery? Is the Dark Lord's hate more important than our friendship? You are..."

Severus cut off her words by squeezing her throat slightly. "Enough!"

Hermione stood and made her way to him. "Please stop, Severus. Don't do it!"

He looked at her oddly. "Stay out of this, girl." He lessened his grip on Narcissa, but he did not release her. "Lucius... is alive."

"You jest!"

"I do not. I have him in a safe place. I couldn't follow our Lord's orders. I value our friendship too much to kill him without good cause," he said. "That does not make it all right for you to harm what's mine."

"She told him to stop. He Stunned her," Hermione interjected. "Please, Severus, no."

"Enough, Hermione!" he said angrily.

Narcissa collapsed against Severus' chest. "Thank you. Thank you. What will I do? I want to go to him. Help me, Severus. Please."

Severus looked at her distastefully. "Control yourself. I cannot go against the Dark Lord, Narcissa. He would wish you dead for your betrayal, and he shall know of it. I keep no secrets from him." He raised an eyebrow. "Aside from Lucius being alive of course. Our Lord will have to believe that you are dead, too. Can you live all of your days locked away with Lucius?"

She nodded vigorously. "If it will save my son's life and my own, I can. I will do what I have to do."

"Very well," he agreed with a curt nod. "Tell me of the young Delacour girl. What's happened to her?"

Narcissa looked confused. "I Stunned her and smashed a few things to make it look as if someone was searching for a particular item." She looked away. "I had to force Rodolphus to stop his game with the older one. The screaming... I hate it. He told me to leave quickly while he set things up to make Potter want to come have a look around. We knew he would, and we knew he would bring your little lover."

"There was no trace of the girl," Severus said.

"I swear I don't know, Severus. She was fine. Rodolphus must have... oh... taken her."

"Well, if that's the case, I doubt she'll ever be found...what's left of her anyway." Rodolphus probably killed her in some secluded spot, leaving her for Muggles to find. "I will bring you to Lucius."

"Should I leave everything as it is upstairs?" Narcissa asked, voice shaking.

He nodded. "I must see to my concubine first. She's hurt."

"All right," she said and looked behind him to Hermione. "My family means everything to me." It was her attempt at an explanation.

Hermione remained silent, so Severus lifted his wand again in Narcissa's direction. "Forgive me. Stupefy!"

"What was that for?" Hermione asked, finally finding her voice.

"I can't trust that she won't leave or inform someone of what has transpired here." He placed Narcissa down gently.

"Severus, you're not really on Harry's side. Are you?" Hermione asked suddenly.

He straightened and looked at her, eyes narrowing, as he put away his wand. "What are you playing at? There's no time for that right now. We've had this talk already."

"You killed him," she said, nodding to Rodolphus' body. "You would have killed her."

Severus shook his head. "I wouldn't have killed her unless..." He held a hand out to her. "Come."

After a moment's deliberation, she went to him and allowed him to hold her. "I thought I was going to die, but I didn't say anything. I didn't tell them about your plans."

"I know you didn't," he said in a voice meant to soothe her.

"Ow! It hurts when I touch it... really badly."

"To Poppy then," he said. "Hold onto me with your good arm."

As quickly as he could, he guided her to the infirmary. A few students saw them, but none were thick enough to question him or Hermione. He threw dark gazes at everyone. When Poppy finally came out of her office, she quickly put Hermione in a bed and mended her broken bone before cleaning her person and giving her fresh clothing.

He sat with her until the draught Poppy gave her put her to sleep, kissing her on the lips before he left. He uneasily made his way back to Malfoy Manor to retrieve Narcissa. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Hermione hadn't hardly looked at him or talked to him since they'd been back at the castle. She'd recounted to the headmaster about what happened to her from the moment Rodolphus grabbed her and Disapparated with her until the moment he showed up to help. She'd then allowed him to tell his own rendition of how he'd saved her. He simply said that he'd struggled with Rodolphus, and the man met his unfortunate demise, leaving him free to help both Hermione and Narcissa who had been forced to go along with his plan.

Perhaps it was too much to take in at one time. She simply needed to think things over. Yes, he'd been brutal with Rodolphus, but knowing that the man had hurt her, made her cry and feel pain, he'd wanted to inflict the same pain on him. If he were in the same situation a second time, he would do it again. From the disapproving glares McGonagall sent his way, he knew that she had figured out a few things about his relationship with Hermione. Bill Weasley had also figured it out, and he'd even gone as far as to clap him on the shoulder, saying something about knowing how it felt. Potter had been told of the news concerning his young lover. He hadn't taken it well and was sent to headquarters for the night to be under the watchful eyes of Molly Weasley.

Severus waited until darkness fell before slipping back into the castle with Narcissa. This time he made certain that no one saw him, cloaking her body before leaving her home. He swept through the infirmary and opened Lucius' warded room.

"Severus, what are you doing here?" Lucius asked, placing his book aside and rising.

Pulling the Disillusioned sheet from his bundle, he revealed the man's wife. "You have a guest, old friend."

"What the hell is going on?" Lucius asked, taking her from him.

"She and Rodolphus thought to have a bit of fun with Hermione." Severus watched as realization dawned on Lucius' face. "I didn't hurt her, but she is lucky she still breathes. I cannot say the same for her accomplice."

He turned and made his way to the door. Once there, he pulled out his wand. "Lucius, you do realize that even though we are old friends, there might come a time when I might have to fend for myself and choose another path."

"As would I," Lucius said in understanding.

Severus nodded, pointed his wand at Narcissa to revive her, and left, warding the door behind him. He stopped in to sit at Hermione's bedside for a few moments, wanting her to awaken. He took her hand in his and thought of the day's events once again. She had suffered at his expense. He hated that. He'd done the right thing by avenging her, hadn't he? If this caused trouble between them... Well, he hated to think of what he would do to make certain she remained his witch. Again, he kissed her lips and left before an overwhelming emotion forced him to make a fool of himself.

Southern's Notes: Real life bites, I say. Sorry, mates. I know it's been a week. After the last chapter, I hadn't much interest in writing this one. Not simply for any lack of response to the previous one, but I knew most people wouldn't really like this chapter. I hope this chapter is all right. I only wanted the rescue part in here. The next bit will be up soon. I did make Snape a bit dark here, but I firmly believe that he is simply a dark man. Fear and anger will make the best of us do some harsh things.

Unfortunately for Snape, this is a lot for Hermione to take in. I think she is now rethinking her image of him. He'll have to tread carefully if he doesn't want to destroy the relationship they've built.