Into the Flames

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 38 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Into the Flames

Hermione woke slowly, still groggy from the effects of the Sleeping Potion she'd taken the night before. She lifted the eye pillow and inhaled the heavenly scent of the lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus before setting it on the table beside her. She sat up, stretched, and reached for the glass sitting upside-down on the neck of the bedside water decanter, smiling as it magically filled in her hand when she righted it. As if summoned, Madam Pomfrey stepped around her curtain.

"Ah, good, Mrs. Snape, good to see you awake," she said, placing a tray across Hermione's lap.

The smells of the beef and buttered toast made her stomach growl in anticipation. "What time is it?" she asked, slightly disappointed to find the chair by her bed empty.

"It's half past twelve," the Healer replied. "As soon as you eat, you may go."

Hermione was shocked – she'd never slept for sixteen hours straight before, even with a sleeping potion. "It was the compress," the Healer explained while removing the cover on the plate. She smiled knowingly, watching as Hermione inhaled the scent of the steam from the freshly baked bread and thick beef stew. "You'll need to use it again tonight, but without the sleeping potion it will not make you sleep as long, although it will give you a very deep sleep. I will have it placed on your bedside table."

"Thank you," Hermione said and began to eat as if starved.

She heard Ginny's questioning, "Hermione?" before her friend's head appeared around the curtain. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. No lingering blurry vision or light sensitivity," Hermione replied and held out her hand. "Nor any shaking."

"Thank Merlin," Ginny said as she plopped herself down on the foot of her bed. "So, any thoughts about what you're going to do?"

Hermione swallowed another spoonful of stew. "Well, I haven't worked out the schedule yet, but I think we can divide the..."

"Not the potions. Severus," Ginny interrupted, laughing.

"Oh my gods, Severus!" Hermione screeched and dropped her spoon. "I have to find him."

"He's still in the Great Hall," Ginny stated.

Hermione scrambled from bed. "I have something to tell him!" She took a big spoonful of stew before she pulled off her pajama bottoms and again when she shrugged out of her top.

Ginny averted her gaze, grinning. "So will you be spending the afternoon with him?"

Hermione took another big spoonful of stew as she hurriedly struggled with her blouse. "I have class, but this is really important." She took another bit of stew, swallowing a bit of potato as she pulled up her skirt and tucked in her blouse. "I wanted to show him last night, but I fell asleep."

Ginny held her robe as Hermione shoveled another spoonful of stew in her mouth and sat down to pull on her sock. "All right, I'm sure if you hurry we can find him."

Hermione had another bite of potato and beef before grabbing the other sock. She stood, ate the last bit of stew, turned and slid her arms into her robe as Ginny pulled it up to her shoulders. "I have to go," Hermione stated, looking for her bag as she slipped her feet into her shoes. "Where's my school bag?"

"Here," Ginny said, handing her her school bag. "I knew you'd need this."

"Thanks," Hermione said as she reached for the bag and hurried for the door, Ginny hot on her heels.

"So what is this all about?"

"I figured out who the Osgoods are," she replied without thinking. Well, she was thinking, she was thinking about the discovery she'd made as she ran.

The corridor was filling quickly with students as they made their way the main staircase. "Lunch is over; maybe we should try the office," Ginny stated, pulling Hermione aside to let some third-years pass. Hermione nodded and rushed over to the stone gargoyle. He bowed and stepped aside for her, and, unnoticed by Hermione, Ginny followed her up the stairs.

The door opened, and she looked up into the startled face of Professor McGonagall. "Mrs. Snape, Mrs. Potter," she replied, opening the door wider.

"Professor. I need to see Severus," Hermione stated, anxious to show Severus her discovery and worried about what it might imply.

Professor McGonagall stared at them for a moment then stepped aside, saying, "All right, but you have lessons to attend. The Headmaster should be down in a minute."

Hermione thanked her as she passed, barely realizing that Ginny also exchanged words with the professor. She quickly walked across the office and up the stairs to the sitting room. Severus turned around and stared at her, or over her; Hermione was too excited to tell as she approached. "I found her."

"Whom?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Miss Priswell, I think," Hermione replied, setting her bag on the enlarged coffee table desk and taking out the binders of the Daily Prophets.

"Now is not a good time," Severus started to say reluctantly, making Hermione turn her head. Ginny was standing not two yards away, watching them with unveiled interest.

"She's my best mate, and this is really important," Hermione said, enlarging the binders to their original size.

"You told her?" he growled out angrily.

"No," Hermione said emphatically as she opened to the first marker. "Look." She used the Highlighting Charm to illuminate the wedding announcement. "John Talfryn Osgood married Cedella Wendelline Graven," she said as she opened the 1981 binder. "And there is a picture of her," she stated proudly.

Severus made a quick glance up at Ginny as he bent down to examine the photo in the paper. His brows creased and he stood up, staring blankly at some spot in the room.

"Okay, look," Hermione said, opening the 1952 binder to the marker, hoping that the wedding announcement for Miss Wendelline Priswell to Draken Graven would convince him. "It's her mum – she's using her mum's maiden name."

Ginny had moved closer, and Severus' expression had darkened, but Hermione pressed on. "I have drawn the family tree. Look."

Severus snatched the parchment from her hand and studied it. Hermione reined in her impulse to keep talking, waiting for him to acknowledge she was right. She turned the pages in one of the binders to one of the other markers, waited until he read the announcement she highlighted and then showed him the others she'd marked. He was very quiet when he stood up, his expression blank as he stared into middle space again.

"Hermione, what's going on?" Ginny whispered, drawing Severus from his thoughts.

"That is a private matter, Mrs. Potter," he snapped coolly, his eyes narrowed at her friend.

"Severus, you can't keep everything so closed off. She's my best friend, and I'd have found this a month ago if I'd had her help – but your pride and insufferable aloofness..."

"It is a personal matter," he growled lowly, now frowning at Hermione.

"What they're doing is a crime, and it will end up in the paper! Do you really think this is going to remain a carefully guarded secret? I was saved by Draco once, and it was in the Daily Prophet the next morning that I was having an affair with him. I had lunch with George, in public, and Rita reported it as an affair – same as the time when I was seen this summer sitting in the Leaky Cauldron with Ron. I'm partnered with Blake Blume for Ancient Runes and with Lawrence Carlin in Arithmancy, and Rita reported that I'm skirting around on you with both of them," she rattled off, trying to make him see reason. "Do you really think that something this juicy will not end up front page news in Daily Prophet?"

"It can be kept out of the Daily Prophet," he stated, crossing his arms.

"Don't be stubborn – everything we do is in the paper – just as everything we don't do is in the paper! Even that I... I..."

"What?" he asked, his expression getting darker again and a tick showing in his cheek. "What was in the paper?"

"You read it," she said, deflating slightly. "I know you saw it, too. That I'm some insolent, spoiled school girl, afraid of my Bonded mate."

"She's right, Professor," Ginny said softly, making both Hermione and Severus turn to look at her. "And no, she hasn't told me anything about this," Ginny added with her hand out indicating the binders on the table. "But it doesn't take a genius to know that something is up. The two of you have been Miss Skeeter's pet project all summer, ever since the Bonding. If she even catches wind that you have a private matter – especially if it involves a crime – it will become very public."

Hermione turned to face Severus but swung her arm toward Ginny. "She's my best mate, and girls tell their best mate everything. It's hard enough going through all of it, all of this, but doing it alone – without someone to confide in – is torture."

He exhaled slowly, his expression softening into his mask of indifference. "You have lessons to attend. I suggest that you depart. I will return these to Madam Pince."

"Severus..."

"Go." He stood as immobile as a manikin. "We'll talk about this later."

"Fine." Hermione picked up her bag and followed Ginny out of his sitting room, furious at him.

When they reached the corridor, Ginny turned and faced Hermione. "I have to go to the loo. I'll see you in class."

Hermione nodded and hurried off for class, determined to not let his snooty indifference get to her. Bloody git! I solved it for him, all of it, and he didn't even thank me, she fumed, exhaled, and tried to mentally put it behind her. There's no use getting angry – it is just how he is. Damn him.

*

Ginny took a deep breath and returned to the stone gargoyle. "I forgot something in the Headmaster's office," she lied.

The statue was still for a few seconds and then moved aside. Severus opened the door as soon as she knocked.

"Yes, Mrs. Potter?" he asked, his mood apparently not improved any.

"I wanted to tell you that I'm on your side," she stated flatly.

"Is that so?" he asked, and she placed her hand on the door.

"Yes, I am."

He stepped back, allowing her to enter.

"Look, I'm sorry I talked Hermione into doing this Bonding, and frankly I was shocked by the outcome. But as you and I know – it chose you for her for a reason, and I'm – I have been supportive of it from the start. You, on the other hand, have been a real prat." She mentally braced herself for his reaction.

He crossed his arms, stared down at her, and asked, "You expect me to believe you?" which was definitely not the reaction she'd expected.

"Yes." She stared up at him, exhaling the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in and forced herself to remain calm. "Yes, I do. And she's right, we tell each other everything. But she's been in turmoil over you. So..." She swallowed and inhaled. "I think you and I should... be friends." There she said it. She told the most feared man in Hogwarts they should be friends. It seemed ironic to her.

"Friends."

He hadn't moved or even blinked. This wizard was the hardest person to read she'd ever met. "Yes. Friends. And don't tell Hermione that she can't confide in me – we've been confidants for years – ever since her first night in my parents' house. I always keep her secrets, and she keeps mine."

"So, I should tell you my secrets, I presume," he sneered.

She shook her head. "No. But when she cries, at least she has me to talk to."

"She has me," he stated, his face an expressionless mask.

"Not yet she doesn't – you're – it's not working out between you, is it?" She held up her hand. That was not what she wanted to say, and she really didn't want to make him angry. "It should be you, too, yes, but for now it's me. I'm there to talk to when she's worried or confused, hurt or sad, mad or happy. That's what friends do – they're there for each other. And yes, I'd have helped her on this... this... solving this crime she mentioned. And if you'd allow me, I'd be there for you as well."

"And why would you do that?" he asked, his expression showing the slightest flicker of curiosity.

Well, maybe she imagined it. He was still staring at her as if she were being reprimanded after class for destroying a cauldron. "Because she's my best friend, and you're her Bonded mate. You're stuck with me. Me, Harry, Ron, Luna, Neville, and my family – we're part of her life and now yours. When you decided to accept her as your Bonded mate, when you decided you wanted her in your life – I became part of the package."

"Anything else?" he asked in his deep, soft, you've-gone-too-far tone.

It was time to go before he gave her a detention; beside the fact she was now late for class. "Nope, that's about all I wanted to tell you," she said, starting to regret her outburst.

He opened the door. "Then I suggest you go to class."

She nodded and turned to leave.

"And if she tells you anything about our private lives, I expect you to keep it private."

Ginny smiled as she turned around on the descending stairs. "Absolutely, Severus." She turned back around, hurried down the descending stairs and cringed when she heard the door slam closed behind her.

*

Severus closed the door with a little more force than he'd intended. The chit had had the audacity to use his given name and... and he'd not even reprimanded her for it. Her words still echoed in his mind as he walked back up to his sitting room.

She'd said she had been on his side from the start. Hermione had confided everything to this girl. What exactly she'd confided was a mystery, and he wondered just how much involvement Mrs. – Ginevra, if she was going to have the temerity to say his name, he'd damn well use hers – had in his relationship with Hermione.

He closed his eyes for a moment as he recalled Lily saying the same thing to him once. She's my sister, Severus; I tell her everything. She'd said the same thing once about Mary McDonald. She's my best friend, Sev. Of course I told her.

On his enlarged coffee table lay the open binders of Daily Prophets. Severus picked up the parchment of the Prince and Osgood family tree Hermione had drawn and read the announcements she'd highlighted for him again and the articles she'd marked. They proved her theory – and much more. "What a corker you are, Hermione," he said softly.

Seeing the pictures of Mrs. Graven brought back some suppressed memories. He vaguely remembered Draken Graven from his early years as a Death Eater. He had been a pure-blood elitist, even more prejudiced than most, and had a Celtic dragon tattoo spiraling down his forearm under his Dark Mark. His trial was held a few months after Severus'. He had been charged with crimes to wizardkind and against humanity, use of the Unforgivables and sentenced to be Kissed. He'd died in Azkaban.

Mrs. Graven was very tall, extremely thin with sharp features and her pale blue eyes usually had a knowing, penetrating gaze, but she had a warm voice and smiled often... before the trials. There was something more, something he'd forgotten – something he knew, but couldn't recall. Almost as though I'd been completely snockered... or Obliviated.

He knew that Rowle and Gibbon were good friends with Ludwick Graven, and they had been at Ludwick's house for most of the summer following... In fact, they had lived there until the fall of the Dark Lord: Rowle, Gibbon, Thortenson, Rosier, Mulciber and Kolsson... Rowle and Gibbon's circle.

He looked at the picture again. Miss Priswell was definitely Cedella Wendelline Osgood, nee Graven. Severus wrote, 'I would like to see you at your earliest convenience. The sooner the better,' on a slip of parchment with the school coat of arms, folded it into an airplane, went to the Floo, and knelt down. "Minister's Office, Ministry of Magic," he said clearly as he tossed Floo powder into the flame. With a flick of his wrist, he sent his note flying into the green flames and rose.

Twenty minutes later, Kingsley stepped into the headmaster's office. "So, what news have you for me today?"

"Two things. One, a possible location for some of the old associates to hold up – the..." he said and his words choked as if he couldn't say Fifehead Stoke. "The..." He choked on his words again. Frustrated, he said, "Graven's estate. It's near Bulbarrow Hill in Dorset, a Galleon's throw from the tower." He shook his head to dispel his annoyance. "The other is the identity of the wizards from the memories taken from Ashton Foulkes – the ones I suspect of foul play regarding my great-grandfather."

"The Gravens live in Sturminster Newton," Kingsley stated, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.

"There is another house, a farmhouse in Dorset. It's protected under the Fidelius, apparently, because I cannot say the name of the house or where it is precisely. But I'm certain that I was taken there a few times when I was a young Death Eater," Severus replied, wondering what he'd seen that they had felt that he'd needed to be Oblivated for – if that was why he couldn't recall the memories associated with Mrs. Graven.

"Not a problem. If you can point out where the house should be, we can place an Anti-Apparation barrier around the property. I've approved the use of the Apparation-Detection Charm, and we can use the Magical-Use Detection Charms. We can easily block any and all Floo access registered under the name Graven, and post a Junior Auror in the area."

"Might I make a suggestion? Mrs. Figg," Severus stated. "She's a spry old lady and doesn't miss much."

Kingsley smiled. "I will see if she'd like an official assignment. Now, about the other matter?"

"I'll make a deal with you," Severus said. Hermione's warning about the Skeeter witch still rankled with him. "I'll lead this raid on the Gravens if you will not only help me capture the wizards who are poisoning my great-grandfather, but make sure that it will be reported as a raid on Death Eaters, and leave my personal reasons out of the official reports. Besides, I now have reason to believe that one or more of them might have been fellow associates."

"Oh, I can definitely do that," Kingsley assured him with a smile.

"Follow me," Severus said and led the way up to his sitting room. He quickly summarized the information that Hermione had uncovered and showed him the articles and announcements she'd used to prove it to him. "So, from what I have pieced from all this is that my Uncle, Charles Prince's aliases are Clemet King, Clemet Richfield, and possibly Clint Richman. I looked my uncle's name up in the school registry and his full name is Charles Clemet Prince. I was told that he's a ne'er-do-well living in Devon, but I suspect he may be in living in Dorset."

He handed Kingsley the parchment with the Prince family tree Hermione made. "My great-uncle, John Howard Prince, had a son I believe is one Charles John Osgood. That would make Charles John Osgood my Uncle Charles' cousin," Severus said, pointing out the names on the family tree.

Kingsley nodded. "So Clemet, er, sorry, Charles Prince and this Charles Osgood have teamed up to kill your great-grandfather?"

"No, I believe his son has," Severus said and rested his hands on the table top. "Charles John Osgood was killed by the Dark Lord the summer of 1995. However he had a son, John Talfryn Osgood. This boy, a direct descent of my Great Uncle John Prince, married Ludwick Graven's sister, Cedella Graven, and apparently, they have joined with my dear Uncle Charles to kill off my great-grandfather. Although this is all speculation, with proper persuasion, it can be easily verified."

"Easily verified?" Kingsley asked and then held up one hand at chest level as he shook his head. "I'm not going to ask how you intend to persuade them to implicate themselves... So, let me get this straight. Charles Prince, this John Osgood, and Ludwick Graven hired a Healer to give your great-grandfather poisons and bad potions?" he asked, setting down the parchment.

Severus turned the pages in the binder to the marker showing Ludwick's trail. "No, I don't believe that Miss Priswell is a Healer at all. She is, however, Ludwick's sister, Cedella Wendelline Graven, now Osgood by marriage. Their mother's maiden name was Wendelline Priswell, the name Cedella Osgood is currently using under my great-grandfather's employ."

Kingsley's head snapped up. "Priswell? I knew the Priswells. They were one of my assignments as an Auror. I think it's time we go to the Ministry."

"First things first," Severus stated and walked over to his Floo. He sent a message to Minerva, telling her he'd be gone for an undetermined amount of time, then to Poppy, asking her to meet him at the Ministry with her reports on his great-grandfather's potions as Kingsley shrunk all the binders so they'd fit in his pockets.

"After you," Severus said, handing Kingsley the Floo pot. Severus waited until the flames died down, then Flooed to the Ministry himself and took the lift with Kingsley to the second level. The few occupants in the lift eyed Severus with speculative looks, which he was well accustomed to receiving. When the doors opened, Severus squeezed between two witches, who were whispering to each other about him, and followed Kingsley to the Auror department.

When they entered the long room of cubicles, Kingsley's shoulders seemed to relax. "The Priswells were a moderately well-off family as I recall. Pure-bloods. He was an architect, specialized in magical additions, secret passageways and hidden rooms or compartments. He was arrested on suspicion more than once and always had an alibi," he explained as they walked. "The archive room would have the files."

Kingsley greeted Hayward Blume as they walked down the rows of desks. "May I help you, Minister?" Auror Blume asked.

"I want to check something in the Priswell files," he replied.

Blume entered the archive room and pulled out his wand. "Allow me, Minister." He handed a thick file over and sat on the edge of the desk. "Anything I can help with?"

"I'm back, er, hello, Minister, Headmaster," Harry said, stopping in the doorway. "The Barkwidthe matter is resolved, and Ron and I are back from the Knockturn Apothecary."

"What was taken?" Blume asked.

"I have a list of the potion ingredients," Harry stated. "Fresh murdeckle root being one, Vipertooth venom, and Bundimun secretion, possibly Lobalug venom." He pulled out a report pad from his pocket. "The man in question was described as having stringy, dark hair pulled back in a leather thong, a long, pallid face, heavy eyebrows, and thin frame in brown robes that were too big for him. He was in his late fifties or so and unshaven."

That got Severus' attention. "When was the theft, Mr. Potter?"

"Two nights ago; the Apothecary was slow in reporting it," Harry replied, handing Severus his report pad so he could read the list. "Not that we aren't shorthanded."

"Matches the description of Clemet King," Kingsley stated.

"Yes it does." Severus pursed his lips, his mind racing through a list of what potion or potions they were going to try and use on Mr. Prince this time.

Ron entered the cramped space. "Oi, there you are, Minister," he said, moving passed Harry and handing Kingsley a thick letter. "This just came, and I was told to give it to you straight away."

Kingsley opened the letter, glancing at the pages. Severus got a good look at the sheets as Kingsley put one behind the rest and kept reading. He recognized the writing and assumed they were Poppy's finding on the potions. "Doxycide in a sleeping potion?" Kingsley asked, looking up at Severus with raised eyebrows.

"And murdeckle root and Bundimun are used in Doxycide," Severus stated.

Kingsley nodded and handed Blume Poppy's report. "So, how about filling in Blume, Potter, and Weasley on the situation."

Severus shook his head. "I want to keep this a private matter."

"Not happening, man. You'll need the backing of the Aurory on this one. However, I will do my best to contain the situation," Kingsley promised.

Severus nodded, since he knew the wizard was right, and outlined what he knew about Ludwick Graven, Ashton Foulkes, Charles Clemet Prince, and John Talfryn Osgood. "Apparently, Miss Priswell is Ludwick Graven's sister, Cedella Wendelline Osgood, and is married to John Talfryn Osgood," he concluded.

"Mrs. Snape had found the announcements in the Daily Prophet archives at Hogwarts linking them all together. I brought them with me, but I can have the necessary articles copied for the file on this later," Kingsley said to Blume, who nodded in consent.

"Whether this Miss Priswell or Cedella Wendelline Osgood is a Healer or not is easy enough to check – you can't hire on as a Healer without showing your certifications," Harry stated. "I can go check with the registry office in St Mungo's." Blume nodded to Harry his consent, and Harry ran off.

Ron had been writing down the names Severus mentioned. "I saw the name Clemet King on some recent reports I had to file – I'll pull those and anything I find on Clemet Richfield or Clint Richman," he stated, turning to leave.

Meanwhile, Severus and Kingsley pored over the Priswell file for any clues. Blume pulled out the Graven folders and then left, returning a moment later. He handed Kingsley a thick file on Ludwick Graven and handed Severus a file on Ashton Foulkes. "Thought you'd like to see what we came up with," he stated. "That wizard's a tough one to crack, but the threat of Dementors really got him talking."

Ashton's file didn't illuminate Severus on anything pertinent to his case. The wizard was your typical street thug with a wand and not above doing theft or mugging for what he wanted. Graven's was just as useless, mostly petty crimes, a few suspicions and photos, although Severus fully suspected him of being a Death Eater.

Ron came in with a stack of files on Charles Prince's aliases, which were passed around or stacked on any available surface.

"Might I recommend moving to a ward room?" Blume finally suggested. "It gets bloody hot in here if there are a few bodies heatin' up the place, and I want to see those articles you mentioned."

When Harry returned, Ron, Severus, Hayward Blume and Kingsley were all reading files in a small ward room, and the binders from the Hogwarts library were all spread out on the table, opened to various articles. "Got it. Miss Wendelline Priswell was a Healer." Harry flipped the leather cover of his report pad up and lifted the first page, reading the one beneath it. "According to her file, she was a Healer on the spell damage ward at St. Mungo's, one of the best, only she was occasionally accused of healing wizards in her home who wanted to avoid St. Mungo's, especially those suspected of crimes or wanted by the Aurors, although it was never proven. However, she was relieved from duty in 1952. The official statement is that she quit to get married – well, asked for a leave of absence.

"Recently, she filed her application for Home Healers, but she was denied because it's been over forty years since she's been an active Healer, even though her certification is still current." Harry let the top page fall back into place. "What I did find out is that the woman's right hand was mutilated by a curse, and she's living with her sister in Coulogne, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais, France. So, it's not possible for her to do home healing." Harry flipped the cover closed on his report pad. "Apparently, she's a right-handed witch. Also the woman in the Home Health office said that the woman who she'd interviewed was remarkably well preserved for her age and had no such deformity."

"Either this Cedella Osgood looks old for her age, or she could have used Polyjuice. If the hair was from before the curse, the hand would look normal," Blume pointed out. "So, we go get her."

Severus shook his head. "We need to catch them at the residence. Removing the witch would only create problems – or be detrimental to Mr. Prince's life," he stated. Blume's forehead wrinkled as he narrowed his eyes, and Severus shook his head. "I've been secretly replacing my great-grandfather's potions, and so far the witch hasn't noticed. If we move on Miss Priswell, it's possible they will replace her with someone I can't fool – it's why I have delayed in reporting this."

"Who would have hired her if the Home Healers didn't?" Ron asked.

"I suspect Mr. Prince hired her," Severus replied. "He's ill, but he's not mentally impaired in any way. The few times I've seen him recently, he was cognitive and aware of current events – from the papers."

"I think we have enough to go on," Blume stated.

Kingsley dropped his left foot from where it had been perched on his right knee to the floor and sat up straighter. "Let's not get hasty. Severus is right. If he's switching the potions without her realizing it, then she has no affinity for the art. That means it is very likely that she has impersonated her mother to obtain the position. The question is, why are they trying to kill him. I'm assuming it's money."

"O' course it's the money," Blume stated bluntly and then looked questioningly at Severus. "The man has money, right?"

"I'm sure he has some; the Prince family was quite well off at one time. Miss Priswell has accused me of trying to ingratiate myself into the will," he said with a smirk. "I think it annoys her."

"I bet," Blume stated. "So according to the files, these wizards, John Osgood and Clemet – sorry, Charles Prince – live in Dorset, possibly Devonshire and are possibly associated with Ludwick Graven, a known Death Eater." He opened a drawer in the cabinet in the corner, pulled out a map and laid it on the table.

~*~

"All I'm saying is that maybe you should spend some time with him, you know, hanging out," Ginny said as they walked through the corridor, heading for the common room. "It's not like he wouldn't understand that you have revision and essays to do."

"It's easier in the library," Hermione stated. "If I read something and I want to clarify it with another source or if I want to cross reference – the books are all there."

"Okay, so it's not the most convenient place for you to do research, but I know you; you draft your essays and make thousands of annotations and footnotes, then rewrite it at night on your bed. Why not do the rewriting in his sitting room? It's not like he didn't make you a desk there," Ginny persisted.

"Footnotes! Gin, I left my revision guide in his sitting room," Hermione said, stopping short.

Ginny laughed and turned. "Giving yourself excuses to go see him?"

Hermione scrunched her face up and shook her head at her friend, making Ginny laugh harder.

"C'mon, let's go get it."

The gargoyle moved aside for Hermione as she approached, and the girls went up to his office. "He's not here," Ginny stated the obvious.

"I'll check upstairs," Hermione said and walked quickly up to the sitting room. The binders she'd shown him were all gone, and the family tree she'd drawn was still on the coffee table, however her revision guide was nowhere to be seen. Also, Severus wasn't there to ask about it either, and she was loath to check for him in the bedroom. "Severus?" There was no response.

Suddenly, a loud pop made Hermione whirl about-face and instinctively draw her wand to defend herself. "What the..."

"Miss no hurt Pepper," the elf begged, cowering behind a torchiere floor lamp and the legs of a chair.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Hermione said, lowering her wand as thudding footsteps could be heard on the stairs. She recognized this elf; she was Severus' great-grandfather's house-elf.

"What happened? I heard a loud pop and then you screeched?" Ginny asked, coming into the room with her wand drawn.

"Pepper must finds Mr. Snape, Miss. It's urgent that I's finds him," Pepper pleaded with Hermione, wringing her hands nervously. "Pepper must finds him now, Miss."

Hermione knelt to be level with the elf as she asked, "Why? What happened, Pepper?"

"Bad wizards wants to smother my Master. The other wizard wants to Avada Kedavra him!" She let out a sob and then stepped out from behind the lamp. "They means to kills him, Miss! He is not dies fast enough," Pepper stated, moving closer to Hermione. Her ears were drooping, her forehead was wrinkled, and her worried eyes were brimming with tears. "They says he is better, not worse, and must dies."

"But we don't know where Severus is," Ginny stated as Hermione jumped to her feet.

"I know who to ask," Hermione said as she ran from the room. She stopped in front of Severus' desk and looked up at the painted face of Dumbledore. "Headmaster, please. I think Severus' great-grandfather is in grave danger, and I really think he should know immediately. I know you can't break a confidence, but please just tell me where he went. It could be a matter of life or death!"

Dumbledore opened his eyes as Headmaster Black admonished Hermione for her impertinence. "I'm afraid that Professor Snape went to the Ministry with Minister Shacklebolt," Dumbledore said kindly.

Hermione looked down at the elf by Ginny's side. Pepper was twisting a corner of her tea towel in her hands as she looked up at Hermione with tear-filled eyes. "Theys going to kills my Master – they says they is going to kills him," she said, two tears sliding down her cheeks, and Hermione felt worried for the old wizard.

"Gin, I have to go. I can barricade him in his room – or something. Or I can – I dunno – move Mr. Prince to safety or something. It may give Severus time to come help."

"I's can takes you," Pepper said, her smile not yet erasing the worry in her eyes.

"I'll Floo to the Ministry and see if I can find Harry or Ron. Maybe they can help me find Severus," Ginny suggested, grabbing a handful of powder. She was gone in a flash of green flames as Pepper walked up and grasped Hermione's hand.

"Headmaster, if Severus comes here first, tell him to go to his great-grandfather's house immediately," Hermione pleaded just before she felt a sharp, searing pain and the jolting tug at her navel. She landed among weeds and fell to her knees, trying to shake off the pain and inhale at the same time.

"Miss come with Pepper," the elf pleaded, trying to help Hermione to her feet.

Hermione rose slowly, glad she hadn't splinched. "I'm fine; it just knocked the wind out of me," she said.

Pepper waved for her follow her to the back of the house. "They is in the kitchen, Miss. I can'ts takes you in through the door. But Pepper can gets Miss in." The elf snapped her fingers and vanished. Hermione squatted down below the window, wondering if maybe she'd been too impulsive, when the window above her head opened. "Hurrys, Miss," Pepper whispered.

Hermione climbed in through the window and landed on a sofa in a large formal lounge.

"This ways, Miss," the elf said, waving her on. Hermione cast a silencing charm on her shoes and Disillusioned herself. She crossed the room and peered down the long hallway that ran straight down the center of the house. The room at the far end was lit brightly. The rest of the house was lit with the soft natural illumination from windows. She could hear a woman's voice, and then a man's coming from the far end of the house. Although she was too far to catch the words, they were definitely arguing.

Pepper went first, hurrying for the stairs, beckoning for her to follow, and Hermione trailed, staying close to the wall. Pepper motioned for her to go up, so Hermione ascended the staircase as quickly as she could. Pepper was waiting for her at the door to the master's suite. "He is sleeping, Miss. Miss Priswell, she gives him his potions only a little while ago."

Hermione nodded in understanding and closed the door. She cast every protection spell on the door and wall that she could think of and turned to survey the room. "Pepper, is the Floo connected?"

"No, Miss," the elf replied. "The one downstairs is, Miss, not this one."

One problem solved. She cast Strengthening, Unbreakable, and Shatter-proof Charms on the windows and added a Reflection Charm on the diamond panes. Now she could see out, but no one could see in.

*

Ginny exited the Floo and ran for the lifts as fast as she could. The doors opened, and she jumped in, pressing the button for the second level. One wizard, possibly a clerk, eyed her, frowning, while the other occupants stared at the illuminated number. She clenched and unclenched her hands as the lift doors closed, trying to appear calm, like she had every reason to be out of school and in the Ministry of Magic. In the afternoon. On a Thursday.

The voice announced the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as the doors opened, and Ginny slipped out of the lift. A sign on the wall told her which way to go. She ran to the Auror offices, praying that Harry or Ron would be around and would know where Severus was. She slowed only enough to check each cubicle as she made her way down the walkway, grinning when she spotted Harry's messy brown hair through the window of an adjacent room. She pulled open the door and was startled to see the very wizard she needed to find, leaning over a map on a large table, staring at her. "It's an elf – Peeper, Pepper... She said someone – some wizards were going to kill her master. They're in the house," she managed to get out even though she was breathing hard.

"When?" an Auror asked.

"Are you sure they're in the house?" Severus asked, standing up.

Ginny nodded. "She – Hermione and I went to your office, and the house-elf showed up. The house-elf said the bad wizards were going to kill him – smother him – anyway, she'd said they'd said that he had to die, so Hermione went with her to try and move your great-grandfather."

"She did what?!" Severus growled as Harry shouted the same thing.

Ginny took a deep breath. "She went to the house with the house-elf."

"That's it, we go now," Kingsley stated, heading for the door. Harry turned and exited after him.

Severus had literally leapt over the table and rushed past her next out the door.

The Auror grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're to return to Hogwarts, young lady. We'll handle it from here."

"Way to go, sis," Ron said, slipping through the door and running to catch up to the others.

"I mean it, young lady, Hogwarts," the Auror said as he moved away. "Fairley, can you see that this girl gets back to school? Tucker, follow me. We may need the back up."

A large wizard with strong, muscled arms stepped out from a cubicle. "Sure, Blume. This way, Miss."

*

"Where are they, Pepper? Can you hear them?" Hermione asked, and Pepper turned her head, one of her huge ears fully extended and angled toward the door.

Hermione was debating pushing the furniture against the door as a barricade and then enlarging them or making them extremely heavy. But if the wizards used Bombarda or something stronger, then they'd fly into the room, possibly harming Mr. Prince. If she shrunk them, then they'd be no help at all. She'd already removed the mirror from over the mantel and placed it, now only eight-by-eleven inches, in the wardrobe. She'd also magically hung the rugs on the frame of the four-poster bed to protect him from any flying debris if the men did try to blast open the door.

Pepper turned to face her. "I hears them, Miss. They is deciding how to kills my master."

Hermione suddenly got a bright idea. "Pepper, can you hold things here for a minute."

The elf's forehead creased and she frowned, but she nodded. "Yes, Miss."

Hermione quickly undid the charms on the doors and slipped out. She eased down the hall to the stairs. The stairs in the dorm room turned into a slide when anyone male tried to climb them. It was a series of complicated spells, but she'd tried it once at home at Grimmauld Place, effectively making Harry slide onto his bum when he'd come home. He hadn't been amused, but if it could work at Grimmauld Place – it could work here.

She began the first complicated spell, keeping her determination and intent focused on the stairs and not on the sounds coming from below in the house. Some of the voices sounded as if they were moving closer, a man and a woman, but she strengthened her resolve, blending the second spell with the first. The stairs started to glow: first a soft blue, then white for a second as she initiated the last part, and finally a pale yellow glow that faded into the burgundy carpet. Done.

The male voice seemed to retreat a bit, but another male voice was approaching... They were arguing about whether to use the Killing Curse or not.

She hurried quickly back to the bedroom and started putting the spells back up on the door.

"I hears them coming," Pepper said, standing determinedly by the rugs protecting her master's bed.

Hermione held her wand ready, her senses on alert for the sound of the wailing klaxon on the stairs or Apparation in the upstairs hallway, hoping they wouldn't simply Apparate directly into the bedroom.

The wait was unnerving.

Hermione could hear herself breathing, and she loosened her hand on her wand because she'd been gripping it too tightly. Her magic thrummed in her being and through her as she decided which spells to use for whatever might happen next. Beside her, Pepper remained poised, ready to shield her master.

She thought she heard loud cracks of Apparation, like cars backfiring, but couldn't determine where exactly. There was shouting in the house from below. A door slammed shut. Cursing. More shouting.

Two bangs, followed by several explosions. She could hear glass shattering, and a dull thud sounded like something hitting the house from outside, making the windows vibrate slightly. Her body tensed up, and her adrenaline surged through her, which made her even more alert to the sounds below. Beside her, Pepper fidgeted slightly, but stood her ground. The shouts became desperate, and she heard the definite sounds of spells bouncing off walls.

Another explosion shook the windows again, this time more forcibly, and more yelling. She wondered what was happening, but didn't dare leave Mr. Prince's bedroom. More shouts, followed by the wailing klaxon of the stairs. More bangs and shouts and screams came from below, followed by more explosions. Hermione fought back the panic welling up as memories of the fights at Hogwarts filled her thoughts. Shake it off, Hermione. Focus, she scolded herself.

There was a loud shout from somewhere, and another.

Then quiet.

Hermione strained to hear anything.

A log in the fireplace cracked. She could hear Pepper shifting her feet nervously, and Mr. Prince's soft snore.

Outside the door, below in the house, the house was eerily still.

"Do you hear anything, Pepper?" she whispered.

Pepper nodded. "Mens, Miss. I hears mens talking."

"What are they saying?" Hermione asked, wondering who the men were and who won the fight.

"Ties them up. Is anyone hurt? We should checks upstairs," Pepper said and took a deep breath.

Hermione braced herself for the inevitable. They, whoever they were, were going to try to come upstairs.

*

Severus smirked at the bodies of Ludwick Graven and John Talfryn Osgood lying unconscious in a crumpled heap at the foot of the flattened stairs. He spread his arms and flew up the ramp that had been the staircase, landing lightly on the upper floor. He quickly scanned the area for any other traps his wife may have devised, shaking his head when his wand only illuminated at the door. He pounded on the door with his fist. "Hermione, its Severus. Open up."

He could feel the magic dissipate as she disengaged her spells. "Severus!" she cried, rushing to hug him as soon as she'd opened the door.

"Are you all right?" he asked, holding her tightly and stroking her hair with one hand.

She nodded against his chest. "Yes, we're fine."

He leaned back and tipped her face up to look at her.

"I had to, Severus. I had to protect him."

Her earnest expression and the deep worry in her eyes melted his temper slightly. "I know," he replied and kissed her.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I want to thank my alpha-reader, Arabellabloodgood, and my betas, Writermerrin, EverMystique, and DuchessOfArcadia, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much.

Thank you also to Jay for my beautiful banner. I really love it!