Chapter 20

A/N: There is character death in this chapter, but we already know who survived the battle, so it's no one you like. You'll finally learn about what happened with Hermione and the Death Eaters in the dungeon. In other news, Happy Canada Day on Monday and Happy Independence Day on Thursday next. There will be a two week hiatus of story posting, because I am going on holiday! Hope you're having a lovely summer (unless, of course, it's winter where you are.)

Chapter 20

You've been the only thing that's right

In all I've done

Run

18 April, 1998

Hermione slept, revised, ate, had duelling practice, and slept again. Suddenly, it was the middle of the Easter hols, and for the first time, the trio were to be permitted to attend an Order meeting, as representatives of Dumbledore's Army. Harry, Ron and Hermione convened in McGonagall's office, where they were joined by Vector, whom Hermione coldly ignored.

The Floo connexions were too zealously guarded, but travel by furtive, illegal Portkey was still possible, if one were fortunate enough to know someone with the skill to create such a thing.

'Are we ready?' the Transfiguration professor inquired, consulting the old-fashioned watch pinned to her bodice. 'The Portkey departs in thirty seconds!'

The three students and two teachers each placed a hand on the tatty plaid tam-o'-shanter lying upon McGonagall's desk. Fleetingly, Hermione wondered about the absence of her husband...they hadn't crossed paths in several days...but in the next instant, it felt as if Molly Weasley's crochet hook was embedded behind her navel, and Hermione was jerked through space to land with a thump on the dusty kitchen floor of number twelve, Grimmauld Place.

'Welcome, welcome!' a familiar voice said, and Hermione looked up to see Albus Dumbledore, resplendent in silver spangled purple robes, offering her a hand up.

'Headmaster!' Hermione cried, grasping his hand.

The three students ringed Dumbledore, peppering him with questions, whilst much of the Order sat at the long wooden table, watching the spectacle. Percy, Fred and George were present, representing the Weasley family, but Ron's parents were in Romania, visiting Charlie during the holiday.

Percy looked disapproving. 'You shouldn't bother a busy man like the Headmaster, Ron.'

'Do strive for a show of patience, Mr Weasley!' Professor McGonagall chided Percy, since Molly wasn't there to do it. 'It's the first time these students have seen the headmaster since he left Hogwarts!'

At length everyone was settled around the familiar old table, bottles of Butterbeer or goblets of mead before them, ready to hear what the headmaster had to say

'We've set the date to spring the trap,' Dumbledore announced, setting loose another several minutes of everyone speaking at the same time. When it was quiet again, Dumbledore continued. 'A contingent of our Aurors will be Polyjuiced to resemble Harry, me, and key others. They will Apparate to the site of the house in Godric's Hollow where James and Lily Potter died.'

A host of sombre eyes turned to Harry's face, and a moment of hushed respect ensued. Harry bore this quite well, but it was Hermione who broke the silence.

'Excuse me, Headmaster, but why didn't you mention a Polyjuiced Snape? And ... where is he? Why isn't he here?'

Now every eye was trained upon Hermione, and the stretch of silence was disturbing to her

Something was wrong.

'We were wondering when you would ask,' Professor Vector said, and Hermione was annoyed to hear a note of censure in the other woman's voice.

Dumbledore rushed to speak, as if expecting a catfight to erupt and wishing to head it off. 'You see, Hermione, Professor Snape went to a meeting with Tom Riddle, and he has not returned.'

Hermione struggled to parse the words. Of course she hadn't seen Snape in a while but ...

'When?' she asked. 'When did this happen?'

Again, it was Vector who answered her. 'He's been gone for a week. How could you be unaware of that?'

Hermione shook her head, as if to clear it of bothersome thoughts. 'I've been staying in Gryffindor Tower with Ginny,' she said, looking around at the faces of the Order members...at everyone, save Septima Vector. Hermione didn't tell them it was because Snape had been ... almost kind to her, spooking her badly enough that she wished to avoid him at all costs. 'Luna is staying with us too...we're acting as if it's an extended pyjama party, but really we've been planning our defence of the castle and having duelling practice.'

The silence greeting this information was deafening, until Harry spoke up in Hermione's defence. 'We knew Snape hadn't been at meals, but we reckoned he was ...' Harry shrugged. 'Avoiding students...it's not as if he likes us.'

Ron had been frowning, his attention focused on his hands while Hermione and Harry talked. Now he spoke up. 'So Snape's finally gone over to them, then,' he said, sounding not at all like a child. His blue eyes were hard, his freckled face grim. 'He's with the Death Eaters.'

Headmaster Dumbledore interrupted with quiet finality. 'I trust Professor Snape,' he said, emphasising each syllable. 'If he's not returned from Voldemort, it's because he's been detained...we do not know why, and it would be fruitless to speculate...unless you have some information the rest of us lack, Hermione?'

Hermione flushed and shook her head. Snape was gone, either having joined Voldemort...did she really believe that?...or been taken prisoner. He could, at this very moment, be dead...or worse. It didn't bear thinking about.

She was filled with a heavy sense of shame. I am a truly terrible wife, she thought.

But the headmaster was still talking. 'We will take our places as I've outlined here ...'

25 April, 1998

Severus leant against the cold stone wall of the Malfoy dungeon, determinedly ignoring his many hurts. He'd had no food, save bits of gruel left within his reach by a shame-faced Draco, since the Dark Lord had summoned him from Hogwarts. That had been a Friday, the first day of Easter break...the day he'd offered comfort to Hermione, only to be spurned in favour of the mangy werewolf.

Then the Dark Lord had summoned him, and although he had struggled to suppress his jealous rage, he had ... failed.

The merest thread of out-of-place emotion was all the Dark Lord required to ferret out facts one wished to hide from him. Severus knew this...had known it, to his humiliation, for years...and in mere seconds, a routine debriefing had become his undoing. Once apprised of Severus' depth of emotion for Hermione, the Dark Lord had concluded that Severus was compromised. Severus had begged for forgiveness for his lapse...for having formed an unhealthy attachment to his Mudblood wife...and through the hours of torment, he had continued steadfastly to swear his absolute devotion to his master.

Even Severus 'brothers'...that hideously inappropriate sobriquet given his fellow Death Eaters by the Dark Lord...had tired of using his filthy, befouled, pain-wracked body for spell practice after the first forty-eight hours. He had been consigned to the dungeon, almost as a child is sent to the corner to think about his transgressions.

How many days had he been imprisoned? It was difficult for him to keep count properly. His body could survive on a minimal amount of nourishment, but even he required water. In a dehydrated state, his mind did not function at an optimal level

Water. Dear Merlin, he needed water. His parched mouth and cracked lips ached for it.

Hermione slept fitfully in Ginny's dormitory for a few hours, then she dressed and went down to pace the perimeter of the Gryffindor common room, only dimly aware of the rising sun. Today, if things went as Dumbledore expected, the DA would go to war. She would fight with all her heart and soul to keep Harry safe, so that he could accomplish his goal...to kill Voldemort. She would maintain her focus, stay on her guard, and be at the top of her game.

And she would stop obsessing about the fate of Severus Snape.

She closed her eyes, shook her head, and took another turn around the room.

Bright light pierced Severus' consciousness, and he squinted against the flaming torch.

'Up with you, Snivellus,' a squeaky voice commanded, and a booted foot made contact with Severus' bruised ribs.

Severus rolled away from the foot, curling into a ball with his back to the rat otherwise known as Peter Pettigrew, whose voice he had recognised instantly.

'Get up!' Wormtail insisted. 'Our Master wants you.'

Severus crawled as far from Pettigrew as he could get, then attempted to stand, but his legs were unsteady, and his head swam sickeningly.

'You've really let yourself go, Snape,' Wormtail informed him gleefully, obviously amused by his own cleverness. Then icy liquid splashed over Severus' splayed legs and the grimy dungeon floor.

Severus stared with near incomprehension at the wooden bucket.

'Drink,' Wormtail instructed. 'And be quick about it!'

Severus plunged his face into the water.

Hermione went down to breakfast with the boys, and the members of the DA could be seen scattered about the Great Hall, all in their usual places. The castle hummed on as always, and it was important for them to do nothing to alert Umbridge...or any of her spies...that today was different from any other day. Dolores Umbridge was fundamentally irrelevant...she was merely Fudge's stooge, a proponent of Ministry policy and an adherent of neither the Dark nor the Light...but she was a possible impediment to their objective, and she had to be taken into account if their plan was to succeed

They filled their plates, but even the boys scarcely touched their food. Today was the day they had planned for since their arrival at Hogwarts as scrubby first-years, and breakfast seemed somehow unimportant.

'Hem hem.'

Hermione nearly dropped her spoon into her cereal, and she saw Harry and Ron, sitting on either side of her, freeze for a moment at the sound of Umbridge's voice. Then, with one accord, they murmured indistinct greetings and resumed the pretence of eating.

'Good morning, children,' Umbridge said in her disgustingly sweet voice. 'I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I am aware of Professor Snape's absence. It's been two weeks now, according to the house-elves.'

She tittered, and Hermione's hand clenched on her spoon as she visualised stabbing the old hag with the handle. Harry covered Hermione's spoon-clenching hand with his.

'Of course, bright and early Monday morning, when he fails to return for the summer term, you'll be gone, Granger. If you've got no fully-qualified wizard husband, you'll receive no special consideration as a Muggle-born student...and that will mean no wizarding exams and no qualifications for you...you'll have no existence in the wizarding world. Just as it ought to be, wouldn't you agree?'

And with another nerve-scraping cackle of laughter, the putative headmistress moved away.

Now Ron had hold of her other hand, and Hermione realised she was struggling to get away from them.

'That foul, loathsome old hag!' she sputtered.

'We'll find a way to get rid of her,' Harry murmured. 'But first we have to ... do today.'

Hermione sagged against him, and Ron leant over to press his cheek to her hair, the three of them huddled together as if for warmth.

Severus knelt before the Dark Lord, his long hair wet against his face. He had been allowed five minutes to shower, five minutes to shave, and two minutes to dress. He had donned his boots, which had been returned to him clean and shiny as only a house-elf could make them, with a suit of Lucius' clothes...silken trousers of palest tan, a severely tailored white shirt, and elegant black robes. The clothes hung upon his skeletal frame, but they were clean, covered his nakedness, and he was glad to have them. The porridge he had gulped felt like a lump in his stomach, floating in the sea of water he had drunk...but he had no time for the nausea threatening to overcome him.

'You have been provided with an opportunity to prove your loyalty to me,' the Dark Lord informed him, stroking the head of the enormous snake that lay upon his knees like that of a favoured dog. Nagini eyed Severus, her long, forked tongue darting out inquisitively at regular intervals. 'Whilst I secure the castle, you will simply find the girl and bring her to me. Can you do that, Severus?'

Severus pressed his lips to the hem of his master's robes. 'Yes, My Lord,' he said, eyes averted. 'It will be my honour to make a gift of her to you.'

The tip of the Dark Lord's wand jabbed in beneath Severus' chin, forcing his face up...and the master dipped into the servant's mind, searching out the truth of how matters lay between them.

Weak though he was, Severus was ready for this. He had been strong enough, his first day or so in the dungeon, to prepare for the eventuality of just such an audience with the Dark Lord. He could have been killed outright without another opportunity to redeem himself, but fate had delivered him this chance. So Severus seized it, showing his master how he meant to find, deliver, and slaughter his Mudblood bride...all for the glory of Lord Voldemort.

The plan devised by Headmaster Dumbledore...and by Professor Snape, the old man insisted...was a textbook double cross. If Voldemort believed the castle were weak, there was a good chance he would attempt to take possession of it. It was an extremely dangerous scheme, though, so Dumbledore had chosen the Easter holiday as the time to attempt his plan, when many students would be gone. A coterie of Polyjuiced Aurors...some of whom were members of the Order, others who were simply sympathetic to its purpose...were seen to be departing the castle, seeming to leave it largely defenceless. Those leaving appeared to be Harry, Ron, Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and Professor Vector. They met up with a Polyjuiced Dumbledore outside the gates of Hogwarts and Disapparated.

In truth, the 'departed' individuals were in the castle, ready to do battle.

The Polyjuiced Aurors Apparated to Godric's Hollow. They expected to find a small group of Death Eaters there, whose job it would be to subdue and capture 'Dumbledore' and 'Harry' and company. The successful Death Eaters would then return with their captives to Hogwarts, where the victorious Dark Lord would be in control of the school.

The Death Eaters entered the castle through the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement from its twin at Malfoy Manor, just as Snape had reported they would. Peter Pettigrew caught sight of Harry and Hermione ranged along the seventh floor corridor, in position to defend the Fat Lady and Gryffindor Tower, and he recognised the peril at once, making up in self-preservation instincts for what he lacked in intelligence

'It's a trap!' he screeched. 'Snape betrayed us!' Then the wizard was gone, replaced by a rat that darted betwixt everyone's legs and disappeared.

Hermione was horrified to hear the vile Wormtail calling out her husband's name with such familiarity...and such truth...but it disturbed her that Pettigrew was the only one of the battling Death Eaters she recognised. Where were the others? Were they holding back, waiting for the first wave to wear down the castle's defences?

The battle raged through the seventh floor, streaks of coloured light flashing like lightening in a thunderstorm, the air swiftly filling with smoke and dust from spells gone awry

Professor Dumbledore stood at the head of the main staircase, maintaining a wall of pure red light that was thus far unbreached. Professor Flitwick stepped in to hold the doorway of the Room of Requirement, his spells flying like those of the duelling champion he had been in his youth. Professor Trelawney stood in an iridescent bubble of defensive magic, guarding the entrance to the North Tower, whilst Professor Sinistra performed the same office for the Astronomy Tower.

In the first hour of fighting, Hermione cast more offensive spells than she would have believed possible. Downed opponents were disarmed, bound, and levitated to an empty classroom set aside for that purpose. At one point, she was locked in a duel with a podgy female in a Death Eater mask, as beside her, Harry fought with a wizard who seemed to be the podgy witch's brother. Then from the direction of the main staircase, Hermione heard the unmistakeable voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt

'Below!' he bellowed. 'Death Eaters are coming from below!'

Hermione succeeded in Stunning her opponent, used the Incarcerous command to bind her in ropes, and spun toward Harry, her mind clicking over so rapidly that she couldn't follow the connexions her brain was making with reasoned thought.

'There must be another Vanishing Cabinet in the castle!' she cried, watching as Harry bound his defeated opponent. 'It's somewhere below! I'll start in the dungeons, search until I find it, and disable it!'

Harry opened his mouth to answer her just as Ron appeared from behind a tapestry halfway down the corridor, his face white as milk beneath his freckles. He had obviously run up the trick staircase from his sentry point on the fifth floor.

'Harry...I heard...' Ron paused, gasping, one hand pressed to his side. 'It's You Know Who! He's on the fifth floor, flooding everything with burst pipes from the Prefect's Bathroom! He has the Lestranges with him and Lucius Malfoy!'

Harry stilled, a manic light in his green eyes. 'This is it. I can feel it.' He squared his shoulders determinedly.

Hermione grabbed Ron's arm. 'Where's Snape?'

Ron shook his head. 'I dunno. But Wormtail came running in whilst I was watching. He told them Snape had betrayed them all to the Order.'

Hermione felt as if the blood in her veins...even her bones...had turned to ice. Voldemort knew Snape had betrayed him. She had to find her husband ... to warn him ...

Harry spoke to her intently. 'Hermione, tell Dumbledore where Voldemort is...where I've gone.'

Hermione nodded, but the errand was a peripheral one...her focus was elsewhere now, and she had no time to waste.

Ron gathered her to his side, pulling Harry in as well. 'You're the best friends any bloke could ever have,' he whispered. 'Let's go finish this, yeah?'

Hermione broke away from them. 'Yeah,' she said and sprinted off.

Severus heard Wormtail pronounce his doom seconds after they spilled from the Vanishing Cabinet into the Room of Requirement...Snape betrayed us!...so he whisked through a hidden door and disappeared into the Teachers' Labyrinth of shortcuts, watch points, and listening posts

He could use his long-term, intimate knowledge of the castle to hide from the Death Eaters while still moving freely.

Stop worrying about Hermione! he berated himself. Your only duty is to bring Potter and the Dark Lord together...and to make sure Dumbledore is there to even the fight.

Later. He could find her later.

But soon.

Hermione reached the main staircase, where she found the headmaster and Kingsley in consultation.

'You Know Who is in the Prefect's Bathroom,' she informed them as she passed. 'Harry and Ron have taken the trick staircase down to find him.'

Then she was flying down the stairs, her wand at the ready, senses on high alert.

Severus stood behind the eyes of the mermaid in the Prefect's Bathroom, spying. As he watched, Lucius methodically destroyed the pipes to every faucet, every basin, and every toilet. The Dark Lord waited to one side, his robes protected from the water by a Shield Charm, his lieutenants gathered close about him. Bellatrix Lestrange held her wand on Wormtail, who was face-down on the swamped floor, naked and writhing.

It appeared that Dark Lord had not been pleased with the little rat's news.

Antonin Dolohov, one of the Dark Lord's first followers from their schooldays together, sought permission to speak, and the Dark Lord acquiesced with the flick of a finger.

'Do you wish to have Snape's Mudblood killed, My Lord, or brought to you?'

The Dark Lord's eyes seemed to gleam more redly than ever. 'I want Snape brought to me, Antonin! The Mudblood is of no consequence. Do with her as you will, but do not permit Snape to find her.'

'It will be my honour, My Lord.'

Severus recognised all too well the sadistic smile on Dolohov's face as he bowed and hurried away.

Severus gripped his wand tightly, fighting the urge to blast them all to hell. But no, he had to find the boy...find the old man...bring them here, to engage the Dark Lord...to bring it all to an end.

He rested his head against the wall, struggling to calm his breathing. He must not think of Hermione...of how desperately he longed to find her...to keep her safe. She would be with Potter; Dolohov would not be able to strike out at her because the Death Eaters were under orders to leave Potter to the Dark Lord. And Potter, for all his faults, would never surrender Hermione without a fight.

Then two concussive explosions shook the room, one from each end, and when the dust cleared, Harry Potter strode through one side and Albus Dumbledore through the other. Each of them was flanked by numerous companions: the Order with the headmaster and the DA with Potter.

'Hello, Tom,' the headmaster said, taking a step forward.

But Severus did not remain to see what would happen. Potter, with Dumbledore in tow, had found the Dark Lord; Severus' services were not required.

He threw himself into the Teachers' Labyrinth again, his mind racing through the possibilities...for he had seen Potter's lieutenants forming a semi-circle behind him, and Hermione had not been among them.

Down, down, down she ran, watching for opposition, but frantic to reach the dungeon. Somewhere in the castle was Severus Snape, her husband, the wizard who had successfully hoodwinked Voldemort for all these years, and if there was a natural place for him to be, that place was the dungeon. There was no logic to this notion...no reasoning behind her belief...but she thought if she reached the dungeon, she might find him. She might see him again, for the first time since he had reached out to her, had offered his help...and she owed him an apology she desperately longed to deliver

She reached the entrance hall, ran the short distance to the dungeon stairs, and headed beneath the school.

She did not see the figure in pink lurking in the darkened staffroom.

Antonin Dolohov had no intention of searching the entire castle himself. He would go down to the dungeon, where the most obedient help might be found, and send them to search the castle. His only objective was to finish the job he had begun two years before in the Department of Mysteries.

He would kill the Mudblood, Granger.

As he hurried across the entrance hall to the dungeon staircase, a voiced hissed to him from a darkened room

'Who is it?' he demanded, holding his wand aloft.

A dumpy little witch in a pink cardigan peeked out at him. He had seen her before...she was Umbridge, the headmistress.

'Are you looking for someone?' she inquired in a breathy voice, her protruding eyes fixed on his face.

He nodded tersely. Perhaps this was going to be easier than he had hoped. 'The Granger girl...do you know her?'

The witch simpered. 'I do, indeed...a filthy little Mudblood.'

Dolohov smiled thinly. 'That's the one.'

Umbridge reached out with stubby fingers covered with large, ugly rings and grasped his sleeve. 'What do you want with her?'

Dolohov shook her off. 'Never you mind,' he advised her.

'I hope you do something ... awful,' Umbridge said, and there was a curious gleam in her eyes...one Dolohov could identify with.

'Count on it, madam,' he told her, patting the hand still extended to him.

'She just ran down the dungeon stairs!' Umbridge blurted.

Dolohov raised the unattractive little hand to his lips.

Dolores Umbridge re-entered the staffroom, humming happily to herself. No one could say it was her fault that the Death Eaters had stormed the castle. She hadn't let them in. Why would she? After all, the only agenda she supported was that of the Ministry...of the Minister, Cornelius Fudge...and anyone who also supported the Minister and his policies was a friend of hers.

Granger, however, was ... a personal project, and as such ... well, what Cornelius did not know would not hurt him.

She was startled when a section of the wall opened as if it were a door, and Severus Snape erupted into the room, grabbing her robes at the scruff of her neck and dragging her into a dark, dank tunnel.

'What are you doing?' she screeched, pulling her wand, but he slapped it from her hand as if it were nothing but a twig.

Another doorway opened, and she found herself in the middle of a forest clearing...but it was a clearing that was, somehow, located inside the castle. Snape shoved her brutally through the opening. The instant Dolores staggered onto the grass of the clearing, a horrible beast loomed out of the trees...an abomination: half man, half horse.

'Good day, Headmistress,' the monster said, inclining its human head. 'I wondered when you might find the opportunity to visit my classroom.'

Dolores staggered back, alarm clanging in her mind like a bell. She had to get away...if she were away from the terrible creature, everything would be all right again. She saw it speaking with Snape, but the blood was pounding so loudly in her ears, it was difficult for her to understand what they said to one another.

'...and don't let her out until I tell you!' Snape said, spit flying from his lips, his black eyes nearly demented.

'The petty concerns of humans are all of little matter to the centaurs, Professor, but as a courtesy to a colleague, you may count upon me...this time.'

Snape disappeared once again into the tunnel, the aperture closing up and becoming a part of the castle wall. The half-human, half-horse withdrew again into the trees, until Dolores saw nothing but the shadow shape of it. And although she beat upon the unyielding rock until her fists were bloody, Snape did not return, and the door did not reappear.

Dolores began to scream.

Hermione ran into Snape's dungeon quarters, but he wasn't in the sitting room. The bathroom was empty, too, so she gathered her courage and threw open the door to his bedroom.

Empty.

She ran into the corridor again and dragged breath into her winded body. Time was running out. She could never explore the entire dungeon quickly enough to find him. She would have to try another way.

Closing her eyes, she reached out with her senses in every direction, and raising her vinewood wand, she said, 'Homenum Revelio!'

She hurried to the main corridor, spinning in a slow circle...and in the far eastern corner of the ancient dungeon, she found them.

Draco yawned and looked around, bored.

'I thought we'd see some action,' he commented, looking to Crabbe and Goyle. 'Didn't you?'

Montague stepped out of the shadows, looming over the three younger boys. 'Shut up, Malfoy,' he said. 'I'm in charge here.'

'Oooh,' Draco taunted, clapping his hands to his face. 'You're in charge of this whole dungeon? All these empty boxes?' He gestured to either side of the Vanishing Cabinet at the cobwebbed, dusty refuse, and Crabbe and Goyle laughed appreciatively.

They were unaware of the intruder until she cast a spell.

The Full Body Bind made Draco snap to rigid attention, unable to move, and as he was falling, he saw Granger...Madam Snape now, he supposed...stepping into the room, her wand raised

Bad choice, Granger, he thought, staring at the ceiling and listening as his Slytherin companions prepared to fight. You don't know it, but I'm the best friend you have in this room.

Hermione disabled Malfoy and rushed in. The Vanishing Cabinet was against the wall, Malfoy was supine on the floor in front of it, and Crabbe, Goyle, and Montague were advancing on her. She had to make a choice: defend herself or disable the cabinet?

There was only one thing to do.

'Reducto!' she cried, throwing all her might behind the spell, and the Vanishing Cabinet imploded, shattering to dust.

Goyle stared stupidly at the ruin of the Vanishing Cabinet as Montague turned on her furiously.

'You stupid Mudblood!' he bellowed. 'The Dark Lord ordered us to protect it! And you destroyed it!'

'Protego!' Hermione cried, and her protective spell went up just before the red streak of Montague's Unforgivable reached her. Maybe this hadn't been the best idea she'd ever had, to run alone into a room full of enemies...no one knew where she was, and there were three of them still standing...if they flanked her, she would be in trouble.

She struggled to maintain the Shield Charm as she sent offensive spells at them, one after the other. When the Shield Charm weakened, they were able to sneak spells past it, and she was forced to parry them. Unforgivables, Stunners, Body Binds, Gouging and Slashing spells...she countered them one after the other, her wand moving with deft accuracy, all the hours of drilling with the DA paying off in the defence of her life. But it was one against three, and she had already put in over an hour of intense battle before she decided to run to the dungeons. She stumbled, and her Shield Charm flickered.

"Divestio!"

Of all the spells to break through, Crabbe's malicious prank Vanished every stitch of clothing from her body. She was naked in the dungeons with a set of juvenile Death Eaters.

'Petrificus Totalus!'

Hermione recognised Malfoy's voice, and her eyes locked with his as she began to fall. He'd cast from the floor, not even bothering to gain his feet when her spell wore off him

She lay on her back where she fell, shame at her nakedness quickly overshadowed by wondering how they would kill her and how much it would hurt.

Mostly, she just wished she'd had a chance to see her husband one last time.

Dolohov strolled into the dungeon just in time to see the girl...now completely naked...hit the floor. Three of the idiots who'd been left to guard the Vanishing Cabinet rushed forward to stare at her...all except for Malfoy's son. He stayed back, his grey eyes watchful. In Dolohov's opinion, Draco was the only one of the boys who might have made a worthy Death Eater, one day.

'What happened to the bloody cabinet?' Dolohov demanded, and the biggest of the boys turned a gaping face to him.

'Granger did it,' Montague blurted. 'It's not our fault!'

A sound, reminiscent of the rumble of thunder, vibrated through the rock of the dungeons, and three of the boys eyed one another uneasily, save Goyle, who could not stop staring at the Mudblood's breasts.

'What was that?' Crabbe said, staring upward.

Dolohov ignored him. He had come here with one purpose...a purpose approved by his master...and he meant to achieve it.

'You four may go,' he said, withdrawing his wand.

Goyle seemed not to hear him. He knelt down and fumbled at his belt

Crabbe's attention shifted again, and he scowled. 'Whaddaya think you're doing?' he said, advancing to punch Goyle's shoulder.

Goyle looked up at Crabbe, then across at Draco, as if seeking affirmation. 'We always said we'd do her...show her...didn't we, Draco?'

Young Malfoy gave a shudder of disgust. 'I wouldn't soil myself...you oughtn't to either.'

Montague elbowed Crabbe aside. 'I'm in charge here,' he reminded them. 'If we do her, I get the first go.'

Dolohov gave a bark of laughter. 'You can have her body when I'm finished, boys.'

Four sets of eyes turned to him, and Dolohov could almost read their thoughts: This old man has some use for a naked witch?

Of course he did.

Lifting his arm, he shook back his cuffs and took aim.

'May all your kind learn not to interfere in the affairs of their betters, Mudblood. Now, where did we leave off last time?'

And with a great slashing motion of his wand, purple flame bisected Hermione's naked form from shoulder to hipbone, and her eyes rolled up in her head.

'Brilliant!' Crabbe said admiringly to Dolohov.

'Really?' Draco drawled. 'Outstanding work, there, killing a paralysed Mudblood...I imagine a bright first-year might have done it.'

Dolohov pivoted, his wand on Draco. 'I've killed fools for less insolence,' he spat angrily, the satisfied glow he'd felt dissipating beneath young Malfoy's disdain.

'Dolohov!' Montague cried. 'Behind you!'

'Expelliarmis!'

Even the Mudblood's weapon flew from her slack hand, all five wands arcing high into the air, to be caught by Severus Snape.

Severus thrust the captured wands into a deep pocket, his rage fanned to high force at the tableau before him. Hermione looked dead, and he had not far to look for the cause, for Dolohov was present; she had also been stripped naked, and Goyle was on his knees with his flies half undone.

This filth had injured (Not killed! his mind screamed. She's not dead!) his wife, and they were preparing to rape her.

Though it seemed he had carefully considered the facts, in reality, his second spell followed the first at the speed of fury, and he did it without uttering a sound...no reason to provide the witnesses an incantation they could give in evidence against him.

A blast of magic jetted from him like a shockwave of wrath, slamming the five Death Eaters to the dungeon floor, unconscious. And then he stepped up to Dolohov, his motions fluid and precise, sending a thick stream of scarlet light into the old man's chest, stopping his heart for good.

Without another thought for anyone else, he hurried to Hermione, whipping off the black robes as he went, and when he fell to his knees at her side, the robes settled over her naked body.

Severus searched desperately for a pulse at Hermione's throat. He'd seen Dolohov's victims many times before, and few lived to tell the tale. A swift diagnostic spell revealed a faint life force, but he had no notion of what to do...how to help her

Poppy would know.

Gathering his wife into his arms, her form wrapped in Lucius Malfoy's borrowed robes, Severus stepped over Dolohov's inert body and all but ran from the room.

Up and up and up, Severus climbed from the bowels of the castle, cursing Dumbledore's decision to prevent Apparating within the walls of Hogwarts. Cradled to his heart, his precious cargo was warm, and as he climbed, he exhorted her, his voice barely audible.

'Hang on, Hermione. Keep breathing. You're all right...you'll be fine...I won't let you go. Hang on, little tempest. I've got you.'

A/N: This week's song is Run by Snow Patrol. I've always thought this song is a perfect one for the apocalyptic happenings of the Last Battle, as we in fandom envisioned Harry's ultimate confrontation with the Dark Lord. And of course, there is such a marvelous undercurrent of tragic romance in the lyrics, although as we listen, and even as we're wishing the lovers would run away together, we know our Hero and our Heroine: The will never run away from this fight. You may watch the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS8IZcx7tJY