No Time For Tears

A/N: Firstly, I want to thank everyone who was kind enough to leave me a review. It really means a lot to me! There were many questions and conjectures. This chapter should shed a bit of light on some of them.

As always, huge thanks to my lovely beta, Vaughn. Despite having a very busy real life, she still makes time for me and my stories. She's the best!

Disclaimer: They are not mine; I only take them out to play.

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Lying helplessly under Snape's greater weight, Hermione had little to do except frantically wonder what was going to happen to her. Snape had said that she should be quiet if she didn't want a dozen Death Eaters to "join the festivities," and yet he had obviously used his Patronus to summon one of them. What was his intent? Was it more fun for him to have another man hold her down rather than to use magic for the task? Did he intend to use magic to secure her and then share her rape with the other man? There were so many possibilities, and none of them good. So many questions to ask and no way to ask them with Snape's hand still pressing harshly against her mouth.

Trying to read the intent in his wild eyes, Hermione searched his face in vain. Snape seemed strangely calm for a madman. His expression was passive and he would no longer meet her eyes. Indeed, he now refused to look at her at all. Gaze flitting around the room, he looked at her knapsack, her books, the knickknacks on the shelf above her bed, but not at her. For some time, he even studied the light switch near the door with a strange fascination. If the man hadn't been holding Hermione down and if she hadn't still felt his erection pressing into her thighs, Hermione would have thought that he had completely forgotten about her altogether.

Soon enough, Hermione heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. Whatever her fate may be, she knew that she was quickly running out of time. Trying in vain to struggle, Hermione only succeeded in bouncing Snape's hips against her own, which was definitely not helping matters. As the door to her room opened, Hermione went limp in resignation. Another Death Eater strode into the room, closing the door behind him. The new man was also masked and robed, so Hermione didn't recognize him until he spoke.

"What have you got there, Severus?" Draco Malfoy asked softly.

"The pretty little whore," Severus said affectionately, still gazing raptly at the switch plate on the wall. Despite the sweet tones with which Snape uttered the phrase, it did nothing to calm a Hermione, who was now even more convinced of her imminent rape and murder.

"Granger?" Draco asked incredulously. "Of all the...what the bloody fuck is she doing here?" Turning from where he'd been leaning over the bed, peering at Hermione in the dim light, Draco drew his wand and cast both a Silencing Charm and a locking charm at the door. Whipping off his mask, he glared at Hermione with obvious anger. "Let her up, Severus. They won't hear her now. We've got to figure out how to sort this mess."

With a certain lack of grace, Snape managed to get off of Hermione and stand. Walking over to the bookcase, he peered at the titles and seemed to forget that anyone else was in the room. Sitting up on the bed, Hermione glared at Draco. Though she felt like screaming, she didn't want to give Malfoy the satisfaction. Hermione had just managed to open her mouth to speak when Draco interrupted her.

"Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me what the bloody hell you're doing in what was supposed to be an empty house?" Not giving her a chance to answer, he continued. "Do you even have a clue how much trouble you've caused? Of course you don't, you stupid Gryffindor Mudblood. You're too used to jumping straight into a muddle and expecting others to get you out of it." Again Hermione opened her mouth, and again Draco refused to give her one solitary second to speak. "Well, you're lucky this time, you stupid twat. You're lucky Severus got up here before any of the rest of them."

Suddenly, Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears. Strong as she was, it was just all too much. To be suddenly awakened by a Death Eater in her room and then to have reason to fear being raped and killed by that Death Eater was bad enough. To then have this swotty little Malfoy shouting at her like she'd ruined his day was the last straw. Draco saw the tears in her eyes. Crossing to her, he knelt before where she sat on the bed. Taking both her arms in a firm grip, he gave her a rough shake.

"No time for that, Granger. No time for tears, or questions, or explanations. We have to get you out of here and we have to do it fast. They've already set fire to the garage downstairs."

"You're going to help me?" Hermione asked, her disbelief apparent on her face.

"Yes, we'll get you out, if we can. I know you have no reason to trust us, but you've no choice in the matter."

Nodding her head, she said, "I'm sorry, I thought...I thought--" Unable to voice her fear, she waved a hand towards where Severus' trousers were still obviously tented.

Addressing the lamp near her bed, Severus said grumpily, "Just like a Gryffindor whore...blaming a man for a reaction he can't control."

This was too much for Draco. With a soft chuckle, he climbed to his feet. "How do you want to do this, Severus?"

"Invisible knapsack," Severus said lovingly to a small spider crawling across the ceiling.

"You or me?" Draco asked.

"Me. It will be easier," Severus replied, still seeming to address the distant spider. "They expect me to act oddly. I'm mad as a hatter, after all," Severus said dryly.

"Fine," Draco agreed. "Now Granger, we're going to put a Disillusionment Charm on you. Then you'll go out of here on Severus' back. Once we leave this room, you'll have to stick on him like a burr. If he's caught looking as if he's carrying something, then that will look too suspicious, even for him. Once we are clear of the house, Severus will shrug you off. Try to stay quiet until you're in the clear enough to Apparate."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Hermione.

"No time. Just do as I told you," Draco snapped. "Where's your wand?"

"In my knapsack."

"Fat lot of good it will do you there, you foolish twit," grumbled Draco, as he fetched the knapsack, pulled her wand out, and thrust it into her hand. Hermione almost made an issue out of the way he was speaking to her, but the trusting way in which he nonchalantly returned her wand to her made Hermione bite her tongue. Besides, he was right. If she got out of here alive, she'd never again leave her wand out of reach.

When Hermione started to put her knapsack on, Draco pulled it out of her hands. "Can't risk it," he snapped. "Leave your things. They won't do you any good if we're caught."

"But my notes!" Hermione pleaded, "It's important...please!"

Even as Draco was repeating an emphatic 'no,' Severus reached for the pack, muttering under his breath. Hermione didn't catch most of it, but she distinctly heard the phrase "stupid little whore." Why the hell did he keep calling her a whore? Grasping the pack in one hand, Severus flicked his wand at it with the other. At once, the bag shrunk until it was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. Severus handed it to her without looking at her. Then, focusing his eyes on the streetlight outside her window, he said simply, "We should go."

Standing on the bed, Hermione wrapped her arms around Snape's neck and her legs around his waist and hung on as tightly as she could. It wasn't until Snape batted fiercely at her hands that she realized that she was choking him. When she tried to adjust her grip, she almost took out one of his eyes with the tip of her wand, which was still clenched in one hand.

"For fuck's sake," Severus groused, "do try not to blind me, little whore, or we'll never get out of here."

"Sorry," she mumbled, still taken aback by his colorful choice of address.

Once she was situated, Draco rapped Hermione on the top of her head, and she felt the cold, tickling sensation of the charm as it ran down her body. Draco then took the charms off of the door and preceded Snape from the room. As he passed over the threshold, he whispered, "Nice knickers, Granger."

Only then did Hermione remember the shortness of her old nightgown. Malfoy must have gotten quite a nice view when she'd clambered onto Snape's back. Damn him! Just like a Slytherin to make such a comment when she couldn't respond. If he wasn't so busy saving her life, she'd see if she could reproduce the charm that would turn him into a ferret.

As they made their way down the stairs, Hermione could feel Snape's hands on her bare thighs, supporting her. She tried her best not to notice how warm his hands were on her bare skin and how firmly, but gently, they gripped her. As they came off the stairs, Snape released his grip and crossed his arms nonchalantly on his chest, exactly between where Hermione's arms wrapped around his neck and where her legs clenched his waist. If the man was mad, he was still brilliant, as that was perhaps the only natural looking position he could maintain without her limbs interfering.

They entered the living room, and Hermione could already smell the smoke from the fire in the garage. Soon her childhood home would be engulfed in flame. Feeling tears prickling in her eyes, Hermione tried her best to deny them. She knew that if she hoped to get away from the Death Eaters, she must make no sound. It was hard, it was damned hard to ignore the death of her home. Reviving her spirits by reminding herself that at least her parents were safe, Hermione leaned her face into Snape's hair. One of his hands slipped down to give her knee a brief squeeze.

Why was he being so kind? Why was Malfoy of all people helping her, a Mudblood? It was obvious that there was more going on here than Hermione understood. If she made it out of here alive, she was going to get some answers, and she was going to start with Harry. Harry was going to show her those scenes in the Pensieve if she had to hex him into next week. That made her think of another person she needed to talk to. Remus Lupin had been regularly giving the Order information from a contact that he refused to identify. Hermione rather suspected that she now knew where Remus was getting all of his useful information.

Hermione's wandering thoughts were interrupted by a near disaster. One of the Death Eaters had come up behind Snape and was almost close enough to touch Hermione before Snape dodged away. Making his way to an empty corner of the room, Snape studied a painting on the wall intently. The painting didn't deserve such scrutiny. It was a horrible depiction of a basket of kittens that Hermione had spent years trying to get her mother to throw away. The sight of Snape, traitor and Death Eater, studying a painting of kittens like an art critic almost made Hermione giggle aloud. Biting her tongue until it bled, she determined to keep silent no matter what happened.

A rough voice broke through the idle chatter of the Death Eaters. "Well, Malfoy, was anyone upstairs?"

"No," Draco said coolly, "the house is empty."

"That's the third time this month we've carefully plotted only to find an empty house when we arrive," the nameless man growled. "I tell you there must be a leak. We've got to find out who it is and stop them."

"Perhaps," Draco said in that bored tone of voice that the entire Malfoy family excelled at. "Or perhaps they've simply set up better wards. An early warning system would be just as detrimental to our plans."

"You could be onto something there," the man said, placated. "We've searched for a spy in vain. We should have someone check the wards and see if there is anything unusual."

"Too late for that now," Draco said with a disdainful sniff. "We'd best be on our way before the house burns down around us." Stepping over to Severus, Draco said, "What's that you've got there, Severus?"

"Mudblood trash," Severus said disdainfully. "The stupid whores don't know how to paint."

"I see that," Draco said with a wry chuckle. "Regardless, it's hardly a painting worth dying over. Come, Severus, let's get out of the house."

With an exaggerated, world-weary sigh, Snape said, "Oh, I suppose you're right," and docilely followed Draco out of the front door and into the yard. The Death Eaters milled around for a bit, talking and arguing. One of them cast his wand towards the heavens and the eerie sight of the Dark Mark lit the night sky. It wasn't until most of the Death Eaters had Apparated that Hermione got the signal she was waiting for. Trailing behind the last of the black robed men, Severus shrugged his shoulders. Trying to be as quiet as possible, Hermione slipped off of Snape's back and slowly retreated to the side yard. When the last Death Eater had vanished with a crack, Hermione Apparated to Grimmauld Place.

For a moment, she simply stood on the porch in her skimpy, old nightgown. In one hand she fiercely grasped her wand, and in the other, the miniaturized knapsack. Shivering more from reaction than from cold in the warm summer night, Hermione took a deep breath and opened the door. She was barely into the hall when Harry and Ron burst out of the library. Sleepy looking and tousled, they had obviously been waiting up for her. The worried expressions on her friends' faces confirmed her suspicions.

"Where have you been?" demanded Ron.

"Are you all right? We were worried sick!" Harry added.

"What were you doing outside in your nightgown?" Ron said, staring at the short hem.

As both young men came up to her, Hermione flinched with reaction. "Don't touch me," she said, raising her hands as if to keep them at bay. "Listen, I'll answer your question as soon as I can, just please don't touch me right now." True, Hermione had not been harmed, but her fear of what had seemed like imminent rape had left its mark. Knowing that her friends would never hurt her made no difference; she needed a little time to think and to calm down. And to get some answers.

Both Harry and Ron respected her odd request, though they looked confused about it. As Hermione went into the library and up to the hearth, they followed her. When she then tossed a handful of Floo powder into the fire, they flanked her protectively, standing close at her sides without touching her.

"Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall's office," Hermione said clearly, as she knelt down near to the hearth. In a moment, she could see the headmistress' office and luckily, the headmistress herself.

"Hermione," Minerva said, peering into the fire, "is that you, dear?"

Not bothering to answer, Hermione got directly to the point. "Minerva, exactly where are my parents?"

"Oh dear," Minerva said, tightening the sash of her tartan dressing gown. "Stand back, child. I'm coming through."

In a thrice, Minerva was there. Looking Hermione up and down with both sadness and concern, Minerva opened her arms. It was as if a damn burst in Hermione. With a plaintive cry, she launched herself straight into the older witch's arms. Minerva held her tightly as Hermione wept with reaction.

"It's all right, my dear. All is well. Your parents are safe. We were tipped off that there was to be a raid on the Grangers' house, so we got them right out of there. It was a near thing; we only got the information this afternoon. They're at Hogwarts, Hermione. They'll stay there until we find them a safe house...though they seem so enchanted with everything we may just keep them safe with us." Releasing Hermione, Minerva grasped her shoulders and looked kindly into her eyes. "Now, do you mind telling me how you knew that they weren't at home?"

"I went there to spend the night," Hermione said, her voice trembling only slightly.

"Merlin's gory ghost! Whatever were you doing there? The house was supposed to be empty! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine!" Hermione assured her. "I'm absolutely fine...just shaken up a bit."

"Were you there when the attack occurred? How did you escape?"

Hermione was one second away from telling Minerva and the boys the whole tale--then she stopped herself. Malfoy and Snape had saved her life, at great risk to themselves. They were obviously Remus' secret source of information, and he kept that a closely guarded secret, even from Minerva. That settled it. She simply couldn't tell the true story until she spoke to Remus and discovered what was going on.

"I was lucky, Minerva. I heard them when they were still downstairs and was able to Apparate away. It was a close call, and I'm still rather overset, but I'm fine, really."

Hermione was a terrible liar, but Minerva had always trusted her to tell the truth, so she bought the tale. Looking at Harry and Ron, Hermione could tell that, unlike Minerva, her friends could tell that she was lying. Luckily for Hermione, they kept quiet, obviously willing to wait until Minerva left.

It didn't take long. Once Minerva had assured herself that Hermione was well, she stepped back to the hearth and returned to Hogwarts. As soon as the older witch had left, Hermione turned to the boys.

"Wait!" she said sternly. "I am absolutely not going to discuss anything in my nightgown. You," she said, pointing at Harry, "go and make us some tea. You," she then pointed at Ron, "go and get us a snack. I am going upstairs to get my robe."

Seeing the determination on her face, the boys dutifully went off to do as she asked without argument--though they may have rolled their eyes a bit at her dictatorial attitude. In a few minutes, the three were back in the library, tea poured, and with a plate of sandwiches on the table near the sofa. Just as Harry opened his mouth to ask a question, the fire turned green.

"Hermione!" Remus said, his face appearing amongst the flames. "Have you told anyone? Have you told anyone?" he asked desperately.

"No," Hermione said simply. "But Harry and Ron are aware something is going on."

With a sigh, Remus said, "I'd better come through then."