Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Oh bother!" Hermione cried as she looked into her bag. "I forgot the tests on my desk. Well, they won't mark themselves."

She left her room and made her way to the Arithmancy classroom. It was late, and she wanted to get this task over with and get to bed. Lighting the room with a quick flick of her wand, she went over to her desk, her eyes on the stack of papers neatly piled in the corner of it.

She stopped when she reached the deskside. Odd, I don't remember breaking a quill. If I had, I'd have thrown it away. I wonder if it belongs to a student? Maybe a house-elf put it there so it could be claimed.

She moved around the desk and lifted the quill in her hand. Immediately when she touched it she felt the pull at her navel. It was a Portkey.

In a few seconds, she reappeared in total darkness. She heard an alarm sound and looked around to try and ascertain just where she was. Unfortunately, it was so dark she couldn't see a thing. Wherever she was, the air smelled musky and dank. The sound of footsteps racing down stairs made her turn around. Pulling her wand into her hand, she extended it forward. She heard a spell cast and then a small line of light appeared.

The Stupefy spell came without warning. Somehow it found its way through the cracked door and hit her before she could even shield herself. She fell to the floor, her wand rolling away.

"Lumos," a male voice chanted.

Footsteps approached her.

"Finite..."

She shook her head and looked above her. Lucius Malfoy loomed over her. Her breath caught in her throat. The man before her grinned evilly. She scurried to her feet and backed away from him.

"Ah, we have finally captured you, Mudblood."

Hermione huffed. "Just how did you manage to place a Portkey on Hogwarts's grounds?" she demanded.

"I believe I will be the one asking the questions, Mudblood," he sneered. "Suffice it to say that not every student is happy being taught by such as you."

"Crowley..."

"Mmm, you're quite quick for a lesser creature."

Hermione straightened herself. She readied for her death. She would not show this evil man weakness.

"You have caught me. Go ahead and kill me."

Lucius moved toward her and stopped when he was within touching distance.

"Now, now, Mudblood... all in good time."

Hermione's eyes widened. What did this man have in store for her?

"Oh, don't even flatter yourself," Malfoy uttered. "I would not sully myself or any of my acquaintances with your body. No, I have more important designs for you."

Hermione just stared, afraid to ask anything. A great ball of nerves was forming in her stomach, and she feared whatever Lucius would say next.

"You will be my ultimate example, Mudblood. You will show the rest of your kind that there is no hiding from us. You will be publicly executed so all who defy me will know they have nowhere they can hide. With your execution, the rest of your kind will give up their fight. They will all be destroyed within a week."

Hermione's jaw tightened. "You underestimate your enemy, Malfoy. Muggle-borns will not just turn over and let you kill them without a fight."

"Well, that may be, but there are so few of them left they won't be hard to defeat."

He turned and walked to the door. Hermione's eyes followed him. He turned slowly and gazed back at her. He smiled smugly.

"Enjoy your last days on earth, Mudblood. Your execution is scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

He laughed. Pulling his wand from his cane, he flicked it and the lights went out once again. Slamming the great wooden door, he left Hermione to complete darkness.

Panic set in. She walked with her arms outstretched until she found a wall. Reaching as high as she could she ran her hands down along the wall, looking for something, anything, that could help her get out of this prison. She repeated her up and down motions until she had rounded the room and come back to about where she'd started. She examined the door closely, but was disappointed. Nothing. She'd found nothing but a bowl in one corner of the room. She got down on her hands and knees and inspected the floor. She could feel nothing but the cold, smooth tile.

She reached a wall and sat with her back against it. There was no escape. She was dead already. She thought of Harry and Ron. Would they even know she'd been captured before she was killed? What would Dumbledore and those at Hogwarts do? Would they even notice her gone before it was too late?

---

Severus stumbled his way to his seat at the High Table. He'd slept poorly last night, his mind filled with nightmares about Hermione screaming and reaching for him. He'd reach back for her, always grazing her fingers, but she wouldn't be able to grasp him and she'd fall into oblivion. The first time he awoke in a cold sweat. Once he'd calmed and gotten back to sleep, the dream had recurred. He'd not had bad dreams like that since the end of the war.

Settling himself into his seat, he began to place some bangers on his plate. Perry came up and settled into his seat. He looked over at Severus.

"Have you seen Hermione?" he asked.

Severus looked up and shook his head.

"That's odd. I just stopped by her room, but she wasn't there. I figured she'd come to breakfast already."

"She's probably reading every book she can find in the library," Severus said sarcastically.

Jacob shrugged. "Maybe."

Severus ignored him and began to tuck in. As he chewed reflectively on his food, he gazed out at the children. They were chatting amongst themselves. Suddenly a flurry of owls entered with the days post. Excitement grew as people received their mail and morning paper. Severus caught his before it fell into his plate. He placed it to the side, not interested in reading right now.

He pulled the carafe of pumpkin juice to him and began to fill his glass. A hush came over the entire hall, making his head snap up. The quiet didn't last long. A girl burst into tears and then the entire hall erupted in noise. Severus turned to Jacob, who had just gasped himself.

"What is it?" Severus asked.

Jacob swallowed hard and passed his paper to Severus. Severus took it and looked at the headline.

Hermione Granger Found! Execution Set for Wednesday!

He froze. His eyes went blurry, and he felt as if a brick wall had suddenly crashed into him. He turned to Jacob.

"You say she wasn't in her room?"

Jacob looked at him in fear and shook his head. The two men bounded out of their chairs and ran out of the Great Hall. In a flurry, they both raced for Hermione's room. Severus waved his wand, and the door flew open even before they'd gotten there. The two burst in and ran through the entire apartment. She wasn't there.

They met back in the lounge, each shaking their heads to signify her absence.

"Maybe she's in the library like you suggested?" Jacob cried. He turned to race out of the door. Severus held him back and pointed to the fireplace.

"Let's Floo," he advised.

In a matter of seconds they were in the library. Madam Pince assured them she'd not seen Hermione since breakfast the day before.

They Floo'd to the hospital wing, but she wasn't there. Racing to Dumbledore's office, they both banged noisily at his door after yelling for the gargoyle to move aside. The door opened to find a grim Headmaster looking at them.

"I see you've seen the paper," Dumbledore said sadly.

"Is it true?" Jacob cried.

"He couldn't have gotten to her! She never leaves!" Severus claimed defiantly.

Dumbledore moved back and opened the door wider. The two men looked into his office and saw a student sitting in the seat across from his desk. She was sniffling into a tissue.

"It seems that Miss Crowley was sent a Portkey by her father."

Severus rushed past Dumbledore and rounded on the girl. "You fool! How could you do that to one of your professors?"

"I didn't know they were going to kill her!" she wailed and burst into more tears.

"Are you an idiot? You call yourself a Slytherin yet can't figure out where a simple Portkey might take a hunted Muggle-born witch?"

The girl's eyes shifted slightly. "I... I just thought my dad would make her disappear."

Severus got to within millimeters of the girls face. "And what exactly is the definition of disappear, do you think?"

The girl began to wail. "I hated her. I just wanted her gone!"

Severus sneered.

"Severus," Dumbledore said calmly behind him.

Severus relaxed slightly and straightened. He turned to the Headmaster. Jacob walked up, practically forgotten in the drama that had just occurred.

"What do we do now?" he asked.

Dumbledore looked over at the crying girl. "Miss Crowley, please report to your room and stay there until further notice."

She looked up with wide eyes. "Are you going to expel me?" she cried.

"I will decide that soon. Please remain in your room except for meals."

The girl gave a quick nod, rose, and ran from the room.

"She truly didn't understand the ramifications of her actions," Dumbledore mused as he stared out the door where she'd exited.

"She is acting. She knew fully well what was to happen," Severus huffed. "She's just trying to save her skin here at the school."

"That may be," Dumbledore mused, "but we have other concerns right now."

"How much time do we have?" Jacob asked.

Dumbledore moved to his desk and sat down, lifting the paper as he did.

"The paper says they will execute her tomorrow morning."

Severus sunk into the nearby chair. At that instant, Dumbledore's fireplace flared up. Harry's head popped in.

"Oh, good. May I come through with Ron, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore nodded and soon the two men stood with the other three. They all looked at each other in trepidation, none willing to express the fear they all felt.

"Does it say where she is?" Severus asked.

"It says 'an undisclosed holding cell," Dumbledore said.

"She's not at the Ministry. Percy already checked," Harry explained. "I think she's at Malfoy's. Percy said he's beefed up his security detail since last night. He has that room in his cellar. It would be a good place to hold her. It's pitch-black. She'd have no way to escape."

"How do we find out if we're right?" Ron asked.

Jacob put his head in his hands and scrunched up his hair with them. "We can't, can we?" he whispered.

Harry shook his head. "We'll have to assume she's there."

"But if she's not?"

"Then she's dead. We'll only have this one chance. Malfoy will double his guard if we make an attempt to rescue her that fails."

"Could she possibly be anywhere else?" Albus asked.

All eyes turned to Severus. He looked at them quizzically.

"You were friends with him. Is there anyplace secret that he might use?" Harry asked.

Severus thought. Finally, he shook his head. "No. He used his cellar for most things he wanted to keep hidden. Unless he's built something we're not aware of since he's been in office, he's probably got her there."

"How do we get in?" Ron asked.

Severus sat back and folded his arms. Harry looked at him.

"Severus, could we combine objectives? Attack the Manor and rescue Hermione?"

"He's already doubled the guards as it is," Severus mused. "It will be difficult."

"What if we used house-elves to get us into the cellar?" Harry asked.

Severus narrowed his eyes at the man.

"That's how we escaped from it when we were held there," Harry explained. "Dobby Apparated in and took us all out. If we can get several house-elves to Apparate small groups of us in, we can take the house by surprise and get Hermione out while capturing Malfoy."

Dumbledore looked at Harry. "The house-elves will help. They will want to rescue one of their charges."

"What about the Undersecretary?" Jacob asked.

"We could do the same at his house," Ron said thoughtfully.

"Technically we could ambush anyone's home that is influential and on Malfoy's side."

Dumbledore took charge then. "Severus, we need a floor plan of the Malfoy mansion. Harry, call an Order meeting here in my office in two hours. Jacob, go talk with the house-elves and see if they'll help us. Ron, create a plan of attack. Work with Severus so you know who needs to be where."

The four men nodded and rose to leave. "Gentlemen," Dumbledore added. The four turned back to him. "Remember, we only have one chance at this. If we fail, Hermione will die and our hand will be tipped. There will not be another opportunity to attack Malfoy."

The men nodded and all left to do their appointed tasks.

---

"Would you just listen to me? If we attack there, they will be alerted. That part of the manor has extra wards. They were installed after your escape!" Severus said tersely.

"Then how do we get to Hermione?" Ron asked, his arms crossing defiantly.

Severus studied the map he'd drawn up. He pointed to the drawing room above the cellar. "If we Apparate here and descend, the wards will not be triggered. They just alert for Apparations into the basement."

Ron looked over Severus' shoulder at where he was pointing. He gave a terse nod. Severus closed his eyes and breathed heavily. Ron and he had been working non-stop to prepare for the attack and the upcoming meeting. He glanced at the clock. They were set to meet with the Order in fifteen minutes.

"I suppose that's it, then," Ron said from behind him.

He nodded.

"Snape," Ron asked quietly.

Severus looked back at him.

"Do you think we'll be able to save her?"

Flashes of the nightmares he'd had the night before ran through his mind. He looked back down at the map.

"I don't know, Weasley," he murmured softly.

---

The meeting had gone well. The House-elves had been eager to help and had sent a representative to be in on the planning. It had taken over an hour to organize everything. Everyone was as ready as they would be. Dumbledore would head the group that would attack and capture Malfoy. Harry would lead the rescue team. There were two other groups to provide distraction and several groups set to raid other officials' homes. At the meeting's official end, each group separated to work their own personal strategies.

Harry sat at the staff room's table with Ron, Jacob, and Severus. He looked at the map provided them and pointed to the drawing room.

"If we Apparate into a fight, we can probably use the chandelier as a distraction. Ron, you be in charge of making that thing crash to the floor if need be."

"If we are stuck in battle, one of us needs to go to the basement and get Hermione," Jacob noted. "I'll do that."

"I will do that," Severus broke in.

Jacob looked up at him, his eyes narrowed. "Now you give a damn," he muttered.

Severus gave him an odd look. "I am the best suited for the task, Perry. I know the manor well and my wand skills are superior to all of yours."

"I can do it just as well as you!" Jacob countered.

"I know she's your lover, Perry, and that playing the knight-in-shining-armor is something you've been dreaming of doing, but believe me, I am far better suited to this task."

Jacob grimaced. "We've broken up, Snape. I have no knight-in-shining-armor fantasies. I just want her safe."

"You've broken up?" Severus asked curiously.

Harry looked between the two men. "Look, you two can have this discussion another time. Severus, you will make the rescue attempt. Jacob, I need you to fight with me."

The two men glowered at each other for a moment before nodding.

A little while later, Harry dismissed them. "All right, I suppose that's it. We've gone over the plan five times. We could probably do it in our sleep. We'll meet in the Great Hall tonight at eight."

The men left. Severus quickened his pace to catch up with Perry.

"You've broken up?" he reiterated.

Jacob frowned. "Yes, we have. She doesn't feel what she should about me."

"I thought you two lovebirds were enthralled with each other," Severus mused sarcastically.

Jacob stopped and turned to Severus. "Look, I don't want to discuss this with you. Just drop it. If it weren't for you..." Jacob's mouth slammed shut.

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Do go on," he drawled.

Jacob's lips thinned. "We just didn't work out." He continued on down the hallway, leaving Severus to stare after him.

---

Severus paced back and forth. He'd stride across the length of his bedroom, wheel around and pace again. This was not a new activity for him. He'd paced for the majority of his life. Usually he paced when he had to confront the Dark Lord or had to do something for Dumbledore. That pacing had its own rhythm. This pacing was a bit different.

His nerves were on edge and there was an added component. He was worried sick. His stomach was tied in knots, and he could barely contain the scream that wanted to leave his lips. His pacing increased. He hadn't paced like this for a long time. A very long time. Since the night Lily was killed, actually.

He stopped and closed his eyes. Please don't let this end that way.

He shook his head to clear it, and then began his pacing once again. His thoughts were clouded with concern for the woman he'd developed feelings for.

What could Lucius be doing to her?

His pace quickened even more.

What if... No, don't even think about that. We will save her.

Huffing, he went over to his bedside table. He opened the drawer and extracted a book. He grabbed a quill before lying on the bed and opening the book. Sometimes when he couldn't think straight, penning his thoughts helped. He had an entire bookshelf of diaries, glamoured to look like Potions texts, as evidence of that fact.

She's been abducted by Lucius. My heart has never beaten so fast. My mind is clouded. I cannot think straight. I fear more than I have ever feared, save for when Lily was killed. If we are unsuccessful, she will die. How will I survive the loss of yet another woman I love?

Severus stared at what he'd just written. His subconscious had outsmarted him. He'd finally admitted he loved her.

It frightens me to realize that I love her now that she's near death. It frightens me that I may never recover if she is lost. I don't know why I worry so. She will never be mine. Despite her breaking up with Perry, it's just impossible that she would look to me in any romantic way.

But I will not let that bastard kill her. We will prevail, and Lucius will fall. She will be safe. She has to be.

He wrote on for a while. Finally, feeling calmed and better in control, he shut the book and returned it to its place. There was a bit to do before they attacked the manor tonight. He would be busy until their departure.

---

The door creaked open, and Hermione shielded her face. Two of Lucius' goons entered, one carrying a small bowl.

"You ain't allowed utensils. Hurry up and eat," the guard ordered as he shoved the bowl at Hermione.

She took it and gazed down into it. She was ravenous, but really, what was the point of eating? She'd be dead soon anyway. Her heart sank in despair. Her defense training had taught her never to let her strength wane, so she picked up the slop, which consisted of mashed potatoes with chunks of mystery meat in them, and ate it quickly. Glancing up, she saw the two men leering at her. A sudden fear gripped her.

"The boss said not to kill you. He didn't say nothing about roughing you up," the first goon said.

"Oh, yes he did. He said it wouldn't do for the other Mudbloods to see she'd had it easy before her death," the second advised.

The other turned to him with a curious glance. The second huffed and rolled his eyes.

"That means he wants her to be beaten."

A grin spread over the first goon's face. "Shall we let her eat first?"

Hermione knew that begging would do her no good. Letting them see her fear wouldn't help either. They considered her to be some sort of animal and would expect her to cower before them. She finished the unappetizing meal and tossed the bowl on the floor defiantly.

"Oh, y'ell pay for that," the stupid goon said.

She laughed a short, caustic laugh. "As if you needed an excuse to beat me."

The man slapped her across the face. The other dragged her up into a standing position and muttered something while waving his wand. Immediately, her hands and legs were chained to the wall. She struggled to free herself, to no avail.

"Now we'll see how spunky you are, Mudblood whore."

Fists and feet made contact with all parts of her body. She'd barely cried out at one pain when a worse one assaulted her. They especially worked her face over, remarking to themselves that the camera would be concentrating on it the most. A tooth fell to the floor, and the men chuckled. Finally they left her, still chained to the wall. She slumped down, hanging from the chains, the only things that kept her vertical.

She swam in and out of consciousness, her brain trying to make sense of two men violently beating a defenseless woman. She came to the conclusion that they were the true animals, not her, before she completely passed out.