Rescue

Disclaimer: I don't own the Potterverse, it belongs to JKR. I'm not making any money from this.

* Thanks go out to my beta reader, Larilee!

Chapter 2: Rescue

Three cloaked and masked figures silently crossed the overgrown back garden of the old Riddle House. The largest of them grasped Hermione's upper arm, propelling her along before him, his wand at her throat. Entering the house at the back, they passed through the kitchen and into a small parlor where Hermione was roughly pushed to the floor. "Incarcerous," said her captor. Cords shot from his wand, binding her arms tightly to her body. She saw her own wand tucked into his belt. He turned away, stripping the mask from his face. "Pritchard! Caldwell! I have first rights to this chit. After I have paid her back, you can have your fun."

Hearing him speak, a cold fear shot up Hermione's spine. I've heard that voice before, she thought. He turned back to her and she gasped in recognition. "Dolohov," Hermione whispered.

He replied with a feral grin. Pritchard spoke up. "Just remember, Antonin, she has to be of use to the Dark Lord when we're finished."

Dolohov merely grunted in reply. "I think," he addressed Hermione with an evil smile, "that you should have a taste of your own medicine. Silencio! Crucio!"

Pain beyond anything she had imagined tore at her. She thought her skin must be on fire, and her head felt as if it would burst as the pain built behind her eyes. She screamed--but there was no sound. Paradoxically, she heard the men laughing derisively. The pain went on and on and she stopped being aware of anything else. She was rolling on the floor, oblivious to the sweat covering her body and the tears streaking her face, when the curse was finally lifted.

"Here," said Pritchard, pointing his wand at Hermione, "Restituto Vox." He turned to Dolohov. "You see, unlike you, I enjoy hearing the results of my efforts."

Hermione heard her own gasping breath once again. She was so relieved that the torture had stopped, she did not take in the significance of his words. Suddenly, he was upon her, straddling her thighs and running his hands up her hips. She let out a panicked scream and twisting her body sideways, tried to dislodge him. But he had the advantage of much greater weight, and only laughed at her efforts. He hooked his fingers under the waistband of her pants and gave a vicious tug, tearing open the light fabric. Hermione began to struggle frantically, yelling and lashing out wildly with her unbound legs. She unseated him and felt her right knee connect with his back. He grunted and rolled to the side, one hand grasping at his lower back. Good, she thought, realizing she had hit his kidney, I hope the bastard pisses blood!

But her reprieve was short-lived. "You little slut!" the third Death Eater spat. "I'm going to make sure you never use those legs again."

Caldwell stood over her, his wand brandished menacingly as he shouted a severing hex. "Abrump--"

"Stop!" a new voice commanded. Caldwell's curse was unexpectedly blocked as a long, mahogany wand swung in front of him. "You idiots! Don't you realize who this is?" the newcomer hissed.

Hermione looked up in surprise at the familiar voice; there stood the dark form of Severus Snape. She had not thought it possible, but the sight of his long, sallow face twisted with anger provoked an even deeper terror within her.

It must have shown on her face, for when he turned to her, he sneered, "What's the matter Granger? Not happy to see me?" Hermione swallowed, but couldn't find her voice. "In any case, it is of no consequence," he continued. "Caldwell! Dolohov! Get him out of here," he said, gesturing toward Pritchard.

"I don't take orders from you, Snape!" Dolohov replied hotly.

"You had better listen to me," Snape retorted in his soft, menacing voice. Pointing at Hermione, he continued, "She is one of the Potter brat's closest friends. Do you think the Dark Lord would have rewarded you for throwing away the information she holds?" The men looked from Snape to the girl.

After a few moments consideration, Caldwell said, "I see." He turned to Dolohov, saying, "Come on, Antonin, help me with this pathetic slug." Bending, he grabbed Pritchard's arm and heaved him upright. Dolohov moved to support Pritchard's other side, but suddenly turned back to face Snape.

"What happens to her?" he asked with a scowl.

"I take her to see the Dark Lord."

Oh my God, thought Hermione inanely. Her brain seemed to freeze at his words, rendering her incapable of rational thought.

Snape looked down at her dispassionately but said nothing. Then without warning, he flicked his wand toward her. "Stupefy." Hermione collapsed in a boneless heap on the bare floor.

*****

Hermione awoke to find a cool, tasteless liquid being poured down her throat. Snape tipped the glass upward, simultaneously holding her torso upright so she wouldn't reflexively choke. Her throat was raw from screaming, and the drink felt soothing. She drank until it was gone. He released her and she sat up on her own. With a quick glance, she tried to assess her surroundings: a makeshift lab of some sort, underground probably. She herself was seated on a cot that was shoved to the side, out of the work area. His potions lab, then. She looked up into Snape's eyes, thinking how strange it was that he should help her as she had a blurry memory of being stunned by him. Then coherent thought began to fade. Drugged. He drugged me...

She was relaxed, but still awake, if not in control of her body. Snape took hold of her chin and, making eye contact, said, "Legilimens."

Scenes flashed between them. He saw her and Weasley dueling with the Death Eaters.... She was sitting in number twelve, Grimmauld Place, reading.... Potter and Weasley were joking with her about Lavender Brown....

No! Snape impatiently broke off the spell. Random access will take too long, he thought. He reflected for a minute before a sudden idea came to him. Perhaps if I try... He placed his wand to her temple and chanted softly, "Foco Mentis Potter." He felt a jolt of energy pass from himself to the girl. He raised her chin, looked into her eyes and again said, "Legilimens."

...He saw Potter, telling Weasley and Granger what he had learned from Dumbledore regarding the young Tom Riddle.... The three of them were discussing Voldemort's Horcruxes.... Potter was revealing the note he found addressed to Voldemort.... Granger was excitedly saying that R.A.B., the writer of the note, must be Regulus Black....

Again and again, every lesson the boy had with Dumbledore was related to his friends. In detail, the entire story of Lord Voldemort's strategy to become immortal was unfolded before Snape's amazed mind. For many long minutes, he sat immobile, staring into Granger's eyes, seeing her recent memories of Potter. Finally, the scenes began to range back in time, and he broke the connection.

He felt stunned. He had intended to gather information about Potter's doings for the Dark Lord. The bearer of novel intelligence regarding Potter or the Order of the Phoenix would garner great favor with the Dark Lord. Besides, he had been a spy for so long that he habitually looked for any opportunity to gain an advantage in this dangerous game. And he needed it – even, or perhaps especially, when it came to the Dark Lord's minions. Those damned purebloods, he thought resentfully. They have always looked down on me because of my father. And now that he had proved his loyalty to the Dark Lord beyond any doubt, now that he had the trust and approbation of their master, they fawned on him to his face and derided him behind his back! Well, I've really got the advantage of them this time, he thought with self-castigating sarcasm. This information was way, way, way beyond need-to-know. He put his head in his hands.

Damn! he thought. Bloody stupid fool! At this point, he bitterly regretted probing Granger's mind himself. He realized intuitively that his new knowledge regarding his master was certain to be fatal. The Dark Lord would instantly eliminate him, or indeed any of his servants that penetrated this secret. If only I had left her to the Dark Lord. A futile wish at this point! But, how to proceed from here....

He sat for some time in silence, considering. I can still use this situation to my advantage. Yes, the girl can be used as bait for Potter. I have only to present the right facts to the Dark Lord. Now to cover his tracks.

He had originally given Granger a muscle relaxer combined with a truth serum, not Veritaserum – that was nearly impossible to get or make in his current situation – but an effective potion nonetheless. He readied an antidote to the muscle relaxer; while it brewed, he set to work on the girl. Painstakingly, he called forth each of her memories regarding the Dark Lord, then Obliviated them with near-surgical precision. He trusted in his own ability to hide those memories from his master, but the girl wouldn't last a minute – she would give him away. All of her more mundane knowledge about the Order of the Phoenix and Potter, he left intact. That would leave enough appropriate information to satisfy the Dark Lord.

When the antidote was finished, he administered it to her and waited until it took effect. Then he methodically asked her details about the Order's current plans and Potter's doings. When he was finished, he stunned her again and took her to the Dark Lord.

*****

"Rise, Severus," Voldemort said in a cold, high voice. "What is it that you have brought me?"

"A prisoner," Snape replied. "Her name is Granger. She is very close to Potter and, I believe, will be extremely useful to us."

Voldemort eyed Hermione impersonally. "Rouse her," he commanded.

Snape directed his wand at her inert form and said, "Enervate." Hermione wakened slowly, blinking her eyes in the dim firelight. She sat up, but did not attempt to rise. Indeed, she did not appear to really see her surroundings at all.

The Dark Lord stared intently at her for a few moments, then turned to his servant. "She is damaged?" He inquired.

"Sedated, my lord. She was quite... agitated after her interaction with her captors. I recognized her and interrupted their 'play' before she was rendered useless." In fact, Snape knew that Hermione was exhibiting the classic symptoms that follow extensive memory modification: extreme disorientation and incomprehension. She would recover in several hours--if she left this room alive, that is.

"And have you had any 'interaction' with her, Severus?"

"I have questioned her, my lord," Snape said. He looked up to meet the Dark Lord's gaze, placing the memory of interrogating her in the front of his mind. He felt the lightest brush inside his psyche as the scene was replayed for his master's benefit. He let the Dark Lord view a few related thoughts about the girl as well, as groundwork for the plan he wanted to suggest. After a short time, he was released.

"You have done very well," Voldemort said. "I will consider how to act upon this new intelligence." He turned from Snape as if in dismissal, but Snape knew better than to leave without express permission. He waited. Abruptly, Lord Voldemort pivoted to face Snape and gestured toward Hermione. "You have a plan regarding this girl. I saw the seeds of it in your mind. Tell me of it!" he commanded.

Snape looked at the girl. She was still sitting on the floor, dazed and apparently unaware of them. Nevertheless, he murmured, "Muffliato," to prevent her from hearing their discussion. "Master," he continued, "there are several possibilities. First, she could be used as a hostage to provide an immediate short-term gain. This has the advantage of simplicity as none of us would have to guard her for long. Second, she could be killed immediately. Potter and certain other Order members would be devastated. It would be exceedingly demoralizing if she were found, say, inside their former headquarters. However, I believe that she could be much more useful in the long term. I have a third plan: to turn her loyalties away from the Order. Again, this would be demoralizing in the extreme to Potter. In addition, she would be our bait to lure Potter into a trap when we are fully prepared."

The Dark Lord's red eyes assessed the girl at his feet for a moment. "An interesting idea. But can she be turned?"

"That is the beauty of it, my lord," Snape returned. "She need only appear to be helping us for the plan to work. If, indeed, she can be truly turned, then we gain an asset. If not, then she can be disposed of after Potter is dead."

Lord Voldemort paused, considering the plan's pitfalls and benefits. Finally, he commented, "For this plan to succeed, you will need to gain her trust. This can be done?"

"With sufficient time, yes. She is a true Gryffindor: trusting and gullible," Snape said with a sneer. "Besides, I was her teacher for the past six years. I am acquainted with her weaknesses and how to exploit them."

"Very well, Severus. You may proceed. I will inform the circle that she is under your authority. You will take Wormtail with you to insure that she does not escape." The Dark Lord flipped his hand in an odd twirling motion, conjuring a silvery bracelet. Placing his wand tip on it, he intoned, "Impedio Defluo Totalis." He flicked his wand and the bracelet appeared on Hermione's wrist. "This will prevent her from initiating Apparition. You will, however, be able to perform side-along Apparition with her if needed."

"Thank you, my lord." Snape waited for his dismissal.

But his master was not quite finished. "Tell me, how is your research proceeding on the Impenetrable Potion?"

"I have recreated two key compounds that were named in the original Morganian Scrolls. I am confident that, given adequate time, I will isolate the remaining components," Snape assured him.

"Good," Lord Voldemort replied. "I believe that you will have all the time you require to accomplish both of your projects. My campaign will not be sufficiently advanced to confront Potter for many months." He turned away from Snape with an air of finality. "Leave me now!"

-----------------------------

Awareness returned slowly, bit by bit, to Hermione's mind. The first thing she noticed was the dim lighting and drab, battered furniture nearby. A chair, a bed, a wardrobe, she catalogued mentally. Gradually, she realized that she was lying on a camp bed. A bedroom, she concluded. Her brain felt like it was filled with molasses. Next, she noticed a faint rustle in the otherwise quiet room. So familiar. And after a minute, another slight crackle. There it is again...the page of a book being turned! She was pleased with her successful deduction. It took a minute or two before she grasped what, in turn, that must mean. Someone else is here, in the room with me.

She eased herself up to her elbows carefully, quietly. Peering across the room, she saw a man, his face in profile to her. He was seated in an old, overstuffed chair, a book in his lap and his booted feet propped-up on the desk in front of him. Black, lank hair fell past his shoulders, framing a pale face with a prominent, hooked nose. "Professor Snape!" she gasped in surprise.

His head turned sharply, "Aware at last?" Snape inquired shortly. He rose and paced toward her. She recoiled slightly. "There is no reason to be afraid," he said coldly. "I won't harm you. You are much more valuable to the Dark Lord alive than dead."

"A hostage..." she replied softly.

"Very astute, Granger. And I will be your... guardian," Snape drawled.

Jailor is closer to the truth, Hermione thought. But she said only, "Why you?"

"Perhaps it is due to my well-known love of children," he answered with heavy sarcasm. "And from now on," he continued, "you will address me as 'sir,' rather than 'professor.' I despised having to teach an unending stream of imbeciles for all those years; I have no wish to be reminded of it!"

"Yes, sir," she replied automatically as she rose from the cot.

Good, he thought. Six years of ingrained obedience may actually pay off. "Are you hungry?" he inquired, indicating a tray on the desk. "Wormtail is not a very accomplished cook, but it's better than nothing. Take whatever you want – I have already eaten." He returned to his chair and took up the book he was reading.

Wormtail, Hermione thought. So, I have two jail wardens. Reaching for the tray, she noticed a silver bracelet on her wrist. It was crafted from interlinked rings. "What's this?" she asked in surprise.

Snape smiled unpleasantly. "A present from the Dark Lord," he said.

Examining it, Hermione realized the links formed an unbroken circle. "But this has no clasp." She pushed it down, but found it was too small to slide over her hand. "I can't take it off!" she exclaimed indignantly.

"How very observant of you, Granger," was Snape's wry rejoinder. "It is an Anti-Apparition device. It is intended to stay in place. I recommend that you do not attempt to Apparate. I believe the effects are quite unpleasant, perhaps even painful."

Hermione sighed in frustration. Damn, damn, damn! Bending, she picked up the tray and retreated to the other chair to eat.

I need information, she reflected. Although Snape was not a likely source, he was currently her only option. So, when she had finished dinner, she began by politely asking questions. "Sir? Where are we?"

"My house," he answered shortly.

"Why are we here, sir?" she persisted.

"Because," he replied with some irritation, "it is easier to keep you safe here."

"Safe? From who?"

"Granger, use your brains! You are a Mudblood! The Riddle House is the Dark Lord's headquarters. As such, it is generally occupied by his followers – nearly all of them purebloods! To them, you are barely human – fully deserving of whatever abuse they choose to inflict!"

Hermione had a sudden memory of Dolohov's cruel smile as he shouted, 'Crucio.' She shivered.

Snape continued, "If not for my intervention, you would, at the very least, be unable to walk. The men who captured you are quite capable of killing for sport. I prevented them from finishing their activities. In fact, if not for my advice, the Dark Lord would have extracted all the information you could provide, then disposed of you. You should be grateful that I rescued you!"

"Rescued me!" she said incredulously. "Right. And your motives were purely altruistic, I'm sure!" she said mockingly.

He merely regarded her with a penetrating, unfathomable gaze.

Realizing that she was getting nowhere, Hermione changed tactics. "So, how long will I be a 'guest' in your home, sir?"

"That depends," he said with a smirk, "on how well-behaved you are and on the actions of your friends in the Order of the Phoenix. Those events, however, are outside your control." He paused for a moment, gave her a considering look, then advised her, "You should get some rest. It has been an unusually difficult day for you."

He turned back to his reading, but after a moment, noted that the girl was watching him expectantly. "What is it now?" he asked with some asperity.

"I'm to sleep in here?" she inquired. "Whose room is this?"

"It used to be my parent's bedroom. It is now mine," Snape answered.

"So, I've got the cot?" she asked nervously.

"Unless you wish to share the bed with me," he said sardonically.

She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat.

He saw her expression. "Oh, for Merlin's sake!" he said, rolling his eyes. "You are perfectly safe, Granger. I've no taste for rape--trust me!"

"Trust you," she said in a near-whisper. "Professor Dumbledore trusted you, and look where it got him."

He was on his feet in an instant, stalking toward her, a furious expression twisting his features. She backed away in fear. Snape halted in front of her, silent, but breathing hard. He noted her alarm and with a visible effort, mastered his anger, staring at Hermione with an inscrutable expression. When he finally spoke, it was in the soft, intimidating manner she was familiar with from six years in his classroom. "You know nothing of what passed between Dumbledore and me! So I suggest that you keep your judgments to yourself from this point on. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," she breathed.

"Good. Go to sleep," he ordered, then returned to his chair.

Giving up for the night, Hermione lay down on the cot. But sleep was elusive. Her mind reviewed all that had occurred today, but kept returning to the issue of Snape's motives. Why had he helped her, after all? She needed to decipher that if she was to understand her situation. Rescued by Severus Snape! That's an ironic twist, isn't it? I suppose from his perspective, he's done a kind thing, she mused. I wonder if he thinks he's the hero or the villain? Pondering that, she finally fell asleep.

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Author Notes:

1. Spells: Restituto Vox = restore voice; Abrumpo = to sever (Caldwell didn't finish the incantation due to Snape); Foco Mentis = focus thoughts (I imagine that this is a highly illegal charm--seeing its applications to mind control); Impedio Defluo Totalis = completely prevent disappearance (possibly a variation of the Anti-Disapparation charm Dumbledore used in the Department of Mysteries). English-Latin translations are via an automated online translator.

2. The Impenetrable Potion: Made it up! Its applications are obvious, I think.

3. The Morganian Scrolls: I was thinking of Morgan la Fey, the villainess of Arthurian legend. She would have been devious enough to come up with the Impenetrable Potion.

4. Hermione's last thought before sleep: 'I wonder if he thinks he's the hero or the villain,' is a quote from the Lord of the Rings. In The Two Towers chapter entitled The Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Samwise says this in regards to Gollum.