Summary:

Hermione is captured while searching for Horcruxes, but Severus convinces Voldemort that she is more useful alive than dead. In return he forces a servant's bond onto both of them. Can the bond turn the tides of the war? Will a new spy be born that no one could have ever predicted? Will love blossom amidst the turmoil? Read to find out! HG/SS. AU after HBP.

Welcome back my lovely readers! As always, I own nothing! It all belongs to the lovely J. K Rowling. Enjoy my latest story!

The Doulos Bond

Chapter 1

Running

The howling wind whipped around a small canvas tent that stood alone in the depths of the Forest of Dean. Sprinklings of snow and frost had clung to the material of the tent, threatening the occupants inside.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat huddled silently in their tent in the middle of the cold, dark forest as they had been for the last four days. They ceased their search for more horcruxes due to the dangerous presence of Death Eaters that was detected just outside the tent's elaborate wards. Although the trio was anxious to restart their search, there was nothing to do but wait out the Death Eaters that were persistently lingering nearby. They were confident their wards were strong enough to keep them hidden from the danger, but trio wasn't going to take any chances.

The last thing they needed was to get captured.

So here they were. Sitting silently with only their thoughts to keep them company. Nothing could send them onto the brink of insanity quite like spending four days thinking.

To keep from going absolutely mad, Hermione couldn't help but reminisce about how they had ended up here. And how they weren't any closer to finding all the Horcruxes. Or to killing Voldemort.

Ever since Professor Snape murdered Dumbledore, they had been wandering aimlessly around the British countryside. The Order had been without a leader and without a plan of attack since Dumbledore's untimely death. Since then, she had taken the initiative of planning the trio's movements through ideas she had stumbled upon in her readings. But she had finally run out of leads to go on. And there was absolutely no way they could return to headquarters empty handed after the devastating blow of Dumbledore's death. They all had realized that they were the absolute last chance the Order had to win this war.

She knew they were doomed. She hoped the boys hadn't realized how quite screwed they were. But she feared Harry was on the verge of a break down.

Hermione shook her head to clear her mind of the negative thoughts. After all, being mentally defeated would only ensure they would lose this war. But she couldn't help but worry about her best mates, Harry especially.

Harry sat to her left seemingly in deep thought. His brow was scrunched as if he was trying to devise some sort of plan. Hermione had no doubt that was exactly what he was up to.

'I hope he's having better luck than I am,' Hermione thought to herself.

Ron sat on her left, warming his hands over the small fire in front of them. Hermione magically controlled the smell, size, and smoke of the fire in order to keep them hidden. At least they could have the small luxury of warmth in the middle of this god-forsaken hell-hole.

His flaming red hair had gotten long enough to cover his eyes as he stooped over the fire. She had offered to trim it numerous times, but every time he declined. He claimed only his mum could cut it up to par.

Although she couldn't see him, Hermione knew Ron was worried as well. But not as much about their own safety as his family's back home. After the attack on the Burrow, she knew his family was constantly on his mind.

Hermione was pretty sure this was the last place on earth Ron wanted to be at this moment. But he felt some sort of obligation to the group to stick around. She was glad he was here, if only for some companionship besides surly Harry's.

She couldn't blame Ron for caring about his family. She only wished that she had someone back home worrying about her. Choosing to obliviate her parents and send them to Australia was one of the toughest decisions she had ever made.

At least they were safe. One less thing to worry about. Or at least that's what she told herself every day.

She sighed and shook her head in disappointment at what their efforts had come to. They were alone in the middle of a snowy forest hiding like cowards inside their warded tents while the war raged on around them.

And they called themselves Gryffindors!

She looked around at the faces of the other two before quickly deciding on a new plan of action. She couldn't sit around another minute longer. They were the leaders of the Order now so she decided they had better start acting like it.

And what better time than the present?

"I've had enough of this already," Hermione interrupted the silence by whispering quietly but loudly enough to let the boys know that she meant business. "We can't sit around here any more."

"What else should we do, Hermione!" Harry snapped back in an angry whisper. "We're surrounded! I'm not going to hand us over, not now. Not after all of this."

Hermione sighed at his expected outburst before continuing, "Hear me out," for a moment she thought they wouldn't listen but eventually she gained their attention. "For all we know they already know we're here. When have they ever surrounded us for this long? Especially in a place as deserted as this? The longer we wait I fear the better chance we have of being captured."

"You really think they know we're here?" Ron whimpered as he nervously eyed Hermione and Harry.

"He's right, Hermione. If they knew we were here, they would've attacked us four days ago," Harry started, "We should wait them out."

"Should we wait here forever then?" Hermione said sarcastically as she crossed her arms across her chest. "We'll just wait here while they're off murdering the rest of the Order before bringing Voldemort here to finish us off? We're sitting ducks! For all we know, half the Order is already dead because we were too cowardly to take things into our own hands."

She had to get through to them, and ninety nine percent of the time making the boys think their loved ones were in danger would prod them into action. She only hoped it would work this time.

Realization of what could possibly be happening beyond the forest had the boys thinking.

"You really think they're murdering our families?" Ron whispered in horror as his face turned pale white with the thought of losing his family.

Harry pursed his lips together and scrunched his brow in thought carefully considering his options before whispering back, "You're right. We need to get out of here," he said before he looked up at Hermione, "What's the plan?"

Ron nodded his head in agreement. He would never let his family suffer because of his own inaction.

Hermione smiled at both of them briefly before diving into the plans she had developed.

"I think the best shot we have of getting out of here alive is to make a run for it. We're younger and faster than most of these Death Eaters and it would certainly be unexpected for us to up and sprint away," she said enthusiastically as both the boys nodded their heads in agreement. "I'll drop the wards around the tent then I'm thinking that we should aim for the sharp downhill path that starts about thirty metres from here."

Ron interrupted, "Hermione that's bloody insane! Have you seen how steep that hill is? We may as well throw ourselves off a cliff!"

Harry nodded his head in agreement, "He's right, Hermione. We'll never make it running down the side of that hill without taking a dangerous tumble."

Hermione put both her hands up and started once more, "Ok, Ok. I understand what you both are saying but think about it. If we start running down a steep hill do you really think the Death Eaters are going to chase us? Or if they're actually stupid enough to attempt it that they'll not tumble themselves?"

Harry nodded his head in agreement, "We'll just have to run like hell. As long as we make it past those first thirty metres the hill is our best chance." He turned to Ron who seemed the most skeptical before comforting him, "Ron, we can do this. It's no steeper than any of those other hills we've walked down. We'll make it."

Ron nodded his head in determination.

"But what about apparation? Can't the Death Eaters simply head us off by apparating from the top of the hill to the bottom before we can finish running?" Harry turned to Hermione to ask.

"I can set up anti-apparation wards that will extend until just past the bottom of the hill to ensure that they'll be unable to. By extending it to the bottom of the hill where none of them will be able to catch up with us, we can ensure that they can't trace our apparation," Hermione explained further. "If we attempt to apparate as soon as the wards are dropped around our tent, the Death Eaters will be able to trace our apparation which could put us in a serious bind later. This is definitely our best plan for escaping completely untraced."

Both the boys nodded their heads in agreement, unable to find a further flaw in her plan.

"Of course in case anything goes wrong we'll need a contingency plan," Hermione continued.

"The plan is flawless, Hermione. Everything will be great," Ron said optimistically.

"Every plan has its flaw, Ron. That's why we have to have alternate plans," She whispered back.

"You're beginning to sound like Mad-Eye. At least we have someone who can take his place," Ron joked as Hermione punched him lovingly in the shoulder with a smirk.

Leave it to Ron to lighten up the mood.

"Ha ha, very funny, Ronald," she said lightheartedly. "But in all seriousness there will have to be a couple of guidelines that we must follow."

"Like what?" Harry asked with interest.

"If one of us falls when running or is hit by a curse the rest keep going if it means all of us will be captured. We can't compromise the entire war for one of us," she whispered meekly.

"No! No way! I'm not leaving anyone behind! Not with the Death Eaters right there! I can't sentence either of you to death over myself like that," Harry leaped up and angrily yelled.

"Hush, Harry! They'll hear you!" Hermione whispered back as she yanked him back to the ground by his arm. "I'm not saying that I like the plan either, but it's necessary. Just be careful and follow the plan and we won't have to worry about it happening!"

Harry ground his teeth together before finally nodding his head in agreement.

"Also never turn back. We can't risk speed to know where our enemies are. Just keep running as fast as you can. Do not fire off any spells unless they're for protection. Do I make myself clear?" she continued.

They both nodded once more.

"When are we going to go for it?" Ron asked with a set jaw of determination firmly in place.

Hermione looked at both of them before saying, "There's no time like the present."

Harry stood up at once and brushed the dust off his trousers before heading outside of the tent. Hermione and Ron followed suit after Hermione grabbed her bag, stuffed essentials inside, and minimized it to fit into her pocket.

As the trio stood in a circle outside the tent, still under the protective wards they had placed days earlier, they could see the Death Eaters pacing around right outside where the wards ended. There had to be at least fifteen of them. And those were probably just the ones they could see. This was definitely going to be a risky flight attempt, but all three knew it was there only hope of getting out alive. There only hope of returning to their family and friends. The element of surprise was the only advantage they had. Although the Death Eaters couldn't see them standing there, the trio knew they would soon be able to.

At this thought Harry, Hermione and Ron formed a small circle and held hands. They took in the last moment of calm before the chaos would ensue. One last moment of comfort before they returned to the front lines of the war. They took in this one last moment of silence before Harry whispered to them, "Whatever happens tonight, I wanted both of you to know how much you mean to me. You're my best friends. My family. I love you guys."

"Love you too, Harry," Ron and Hermione both whispered back before wrapping him in one final hug.

They took their final slow walk towards the end of the wards closest to the steep hill. Each took out their wand before nodding to each other signaling they were ready for one hell of a footrace.

Hermione raised her wand to the sky before whispering, "Finite Incantatem".

Sparkling walls that signified the wards Hermione had placed earlier began to fall around the area.

As soon as the walls fell to the ground, the trio began running as fast as their legs could carry them across the thirty metres to where the hill began to drop off.

"There they are! Get them!" Bellatrix Lestrange screamed evilly into the chilly winter night.

It didn't take long for the surrounding Death Eaters to move into action. They began to fire off curse after curse at the trio while running closer to the edge themselves.

Hermione was a quick runner, but she was still a couple of strides behind both of the boys. She was sure she was still moving quickly enough to make it the whole thirty metres without being caught.

Twenty metres left.

"Crucio!" Lucius Malfoy screamed towards Harry who deftly dodged it.

"Get them you idiots!" Bellatrix continued to scream as she ran closer and closer.

Ten metres left.

"Sectumsempra!" Dolohov screamed at the back of Hermione who carefully blocked it and sent it sailing back towards him.

"Almost there," Hermione huffed to herself as she continued to keep a close pace with the boys.

Five metres left.

"Relashio!"

"Protego!"

Three metres.

"Get them you bloody fools! They're getting away!" Bellatrix screamed angrily.

One metre.

Hermione saw the boys begin to make their quick descent into the darkness that was the steep hill. She risked one glance back to see how close the Death Eaters were to them. As she turned her head to take account of where they were, she noticed that they were still within a close distance. She knew then that she should've followed her own rules and kept running, for that glance back surely cost her valuable seconds.

But this foot race was definitely not over yet. Hopefully the hill would give them the advantage they would need.

With that last thought, Hermione took the plunge down the hill. It was definitely much steeper than she originally anticipated. She took each step as carefully and quickly as she could. It was a very good thing she decided to wear her best trainers today. But as she ran down the hill, the ground was soft and her feet began to slip with every step she took.

She increased her concentration on remaining upright and dug her heels into the ground with every stride.

She could see the boys still running down the hill in front of her. They were pulling further and further ahead of her. She knew she wouldn't have to worry about them.

'At least they're safe,' she thought to herself as she continued down the hill.

"I see the mudblood!" she heard Malfoy yell from about five metres behind her.

'Damn! They were definitely running much faster than I thought they would!' Hermione thought before trying to increase her pace without tumbling down the hill.

Now she could see the bottom through the darkness of the night. The boys were just about at the end of their run.

Just a little bit further and they would all be safe. Hopefully Lucius was far enough away to not be able to trace them when they apparated.

All of a sudden she felt her world tilt. It took her a second to figure out that she had slipped and fallen. Her back hit the ground hard as her body continued to slide towards the bottom of the hill.

"Hermione!" she heard both Harry and Ron yell.

She felt Lucius Malfoy close in on her as her body finally reached the bottom of the hill. She knew the boys would come over and try to duel the Death Eaters to get her back but she knew they would never win. Two wizards didn't stand a chance against at least fifteen. She had to get them to leave without her. She had to get them to safety even if it meant her capture.

"Leave me! Remember the plan!" Hermione screamed at the boys as Lucius's hand grasped her upper arm.

She didn't hear the expected 'pop' of apparation and she knew the boys were hesitant to leave.

"Now!" she screamed one last time until she heard the 'pop' she had been waiting for.

Lucius kicked her swiftly in the stomach rendering her unable to defend herself as Bellatrix caught up to where she was lying.

"It's a shame that we couldn't catch the Potter boy, but this is quite the consolation isn't it, Bella?" Lucius whispered with a grotesque smirk smeared across his evil face.

"The Dark Lord will be very pleased," Bellatrix cackled with pleasure.

Lucius quirked one eyebrow towards her before harshly grasping Hermione in his arms and apparating away with a small 'pop'.

A/N:

Welcome everyone to my newest story! Like it? Hate it? Please leave me a review! It will only take one second of your time to make my life!