Decimosexto

Forbidden Obsession

Decimosexto

Voldemort, Lucius, and Bellatrix Apparated just outside the grounds of Hogwarts with Severus draped over Lucius' shoulder. Lucius dropped Severus onto the ground with a loud 'thump.' The three stood before the castle, surveying the area.

"Master, you have the wards?" asked Bellatrix. There was a note of surprise and anticipation in her voice.

"We do not need the wards," hissed the Dark Lord. "The wards recognize Severus. Now bring him along." Voldemort began walking toward the castle to the entrance he knew only Severus used.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"DUMBLEDORE'S DEAD!"

"DUMBLEDORE'S DEAD!"

It could be heard throughout the castle. The students were in mayhem, running throughout the castle in search of answers while others were in search of siblings and friends. Some were crying and weeping openly and others hid in corners, too in shock to react. The professors and staff were just as distressed, and were of no use to bringing order.

Harry came running into the Gryffindor common room. His eyes frantically searched for Ron and Ginny and ran over to them.

"Ginny, are you positive? Are you sure?" asked Ron. "How can she...and...he...oh gods this is too sick!"

Tears were flowing down Ginny's face, but she kept nodding 'yes.'

"I have it," said Harry breathlessly, holding the Marauders Map out for them to see. "But I haven't located Hermione." Ron and Ginny quickly stood up. Their eyes scanned every inch of the map, trying to find Hermione.

"So you believe her?" asked Ron. "You really believe her?"

"Come on, Ron, do you really think Ginny would make that up?" snapped Harry. Ron looked at his sister and then at Harry.

"I don't know. The thought of Hermione going down to Snape's rooms every night, begging him to...I just can't..."

"There!" squeaked Ginny. She pointed to a black dot labeled Hermione and all three looked closer.

"What part of the castle is that?" asked Harry. He traced his finger from the main corridor, following the path to Hermione's location. "It must be a hidden floor." His finger followed several paths. "I think it needs to be accessed through Dumbledore's office."

Ron closed his eyes and slowly shook his head while his sister started crying again. It was too painful to think about their Headmaster.

Arthur Weasley was the representative from the Ministry who broke the news of Dumbledore's death. The students and staff had been gathered in the Great Hall for the announcement. At first there was stunned silence. Then the crying began. Professor McGonagall was not even capable of addressing the student body as she sobbed openly at the High Table. Hagrid grabbed the table he was sitting at and launched it into the windows. Shattered glass flew. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff all mourned the loss of the Headmaster, but the Slytherin table openly wore satisfied expressions and left the Great Hall for a silent celebration. In the Great Hall, it was only Harry who didn't cry. Instead a wave of anger consumed him, and, looking in his eyes, the rage was never more evident.

Gripping his wand tighter in his hand, Harry hissed, "Let's go."

Ginny had been concerned about Hermione's behavior over the past few months. She had been acting skittish, which was strange for Hermione, so Ginny decided to watch her a bit more closely. One night, when her Head Girl rounds were over, Hermione went to the dungeons instead of her Gryffindor rooms. Ginny had followed her and had learned of Hermione's obsession of Snape. At first Ginny didn't know what to think, but she kept Hermione's secret.

Ginny knew if she shared with Harry and Ron what she had discovered, they would overreact, so Ginny decided to keep following Hermione and in case she could help her. Each night Ginny followed Hermione down to the dungeons, and each night she saw Professor Dumbledore take an exhausted Hermione back to her rooms.

Still not wanting to go to Harry and Ron, Ginny had finally gathered the courage to speak with Professor Dumbledore. Before she reached his office, she overheard him speaking to Madame Pomfrey about locking Hermione in a special room at night to keep Professor Snape away from her. She could only assume the obsession was mutual. Still Ginny had not told anyone, but as soon as it was announced that Snape killed Dumbledore, Ginny knew her friend was in serious trouble, and she had no choice but to tell Harry and Ron.

Ron and Harry were searching for an opening to the passage when Ginny cried, "Voldemort!"

Ginny pointed to the map where they saw a dot labeled T. Riddle, along with L. Malfoy, B. Lestrange, and S. Snape.

"Look!" cried Ron, "Snape is at the entrance by the dungeons!" Only three dots were moving. Snape's dot did not move.

"Ginny, go warn the others! Ron and I will enter from the outside of the castle!"

The three took off running, hoping to prevent another tragedy from occurring.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Once again Severus was dropped to the ground, barely conscious. His vision was too blurred to see where he was but the voices he heard indicated he was not alone. The smell of his surroundings was all too familiar - he was home.

Severus closed his eyes and ignored the pain his body was feeling. Breathing as steady as he could manage, he focused on where Hermione was. If he could somehow connect with her thoughts, he could tell her to hide. Severus had no doubt Voldemort would use Hermione to destroy him and then destroy her. His thoughts blurred and again he slipped into an unconscious state.

"Find Granger," hissed Voldemort, "Bring her to me."

"The Mudblood?" questioned Bellatrix. The Dark Lord pulled back his hand and slapped her across the face.

"You will not question me," he hissed dangerously.

"Forgive me, my Lord," she quickly replied, rubbing her stinging cheek. "Where will we find her?" Voldemort smirked and looked down at Severus.

"He will find her for us." Voldemort then whispered, "Legilimens."

Inside Severus' mind were many layers, but it was not surprising that the knowledge Voldemort was searching for was easily retrieved. It was evident that Severus was in survivor mode, and he needed this Mudblood to survive.

Following the path of the portraits that lined the corridors of Hogwarts, Severus was inside the minds of the subjects, trying to find the route Hermione had been taken. He had done this hundreds of times before, always finding students after hours, and this would have been no different if not for the vast amount of energy that had been drained. Severus finally located the one that eventually led to the room Hermione was in. Severus realized there were no portraits in the room with her. It was only a door that stood between them.

Severus suddenly felt a sharp pain in his thoughts and realized he was not alone in his mind. The Dark Lord was invading his thoughts too. Severus was well aware his Master was using Legilimency on him, even in his unconscious state. Severus was highly skilled in Occlumency but it was too late. He had shown him where Hermione was.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Voldemort raised his wand and blasted the door open.

Hermione was startled off the window ledge, falling to the ground. She crouched low as if trying to remain unseen.

"Grab her!" commanded Lucius. Bellatrix raised her wand and cast a stunning spell at Hermione. Hermione was launched back into the stone wall but was only dazed. Lucius stunned the girl again, and this time she fell unconscious.

Grabbing her by the hair, Bellatrix began dragging Hermione out of the room and down the corridor, following her Master. Lucius was behind her.

Voldemort quietly hissed, "If the Mudblood is unable to restore Severus' energy supplies, then both your deaths will have to suffice."

Registering his words, Bellatrix froze in mid-stride. Letting go of Hermione's hair, Bellatrix looked at Lucius. He picked Hermione up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her the rest of the way.

Hermione regained consciousness only to find herself upside down and her face rubbing against wool. From her perspective she could only make out the stone floor and black robes. It was the intricate silver patterning of the Malfoy family crest on the hem of the robes that gave her a clue as to who had her.

Realizing her arms were not bound, she reached up and pulled as hard as she could on Malfoy's ponytail. His head snapped back, causing him to lose his footing. Both went down to the ground with a hard thump.

"You little bitch!" spat Malfoy, pulling his hand back and slapping her. Hermione wasn't quick enough to move out of the way as her head snapped sideways. Ignoring the pain, she got to her feet, but, when she realized she was in the presence of Voldemort himself, she froze.

The Dark Lord slowly approached Hermione. His red eyes were slitted in annoyance. Both her hands clenched into tight fists. She might have been wandless, but she was not going without a fight.

"Listen carefully, Mudblood," he hissed, "I have what you need. The choice is yours." Her eyes widened at the word need: she understood he had Severus. Unclenching her fists, she nodded. In a silent understanding, Voldemort turned and continued down the corridor with Hermione following. They entered the dungeons and quickly left through the exit. In the darkness, they heard a voice.

"Voldemort," hissed Harry. His wand was drawn, ready to fight.

Lucius and Bellatrix came to a sudden halt with their wands drawn.

"Harry Potter," hissed Voldemort. "I do believe this is my lucky night. First Albus and now you." Raising his wand, he prepared to destroy Potter. Voldemort had the ability to repair his wand and was not ready to use it to destroy.

"NO!" cried Hermione, standing in front of Voldemort, as if protecting him from Harry. "NO!" Hermione's only thought was to get to Severus - nothing else mattered.

"Hermione, move!" yelled Ron.

"NO! I need him!" Ron and Harry were stunned.

The Dark Lord took advantage of their confusion and threw an unforgivable. "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry and Ron both jumped out of the way. When they got to their feet, Voldemort and the others were gone.

~TBC