Running as fast as she could, Hermione knew it was impossible. She couldn't outrun him. Grey, stone walls sailed past as they sprinted down to the dungeons His footfalls coming closer, Hermione urged herself onwards, her legs screaming in protest, whilst a stitch was knifing at her side.
Then, suddenly, she saw the door a short distance from the bottom of the stairs.
Wasting no time, she descended the many stone steps. Her heart beat faster as she felt the body-heat radiating from her pursuer.
And then, for just one moment, time seemed to slow. Hermione watched in shock, as Severus emerged from the shadows and crossed the corridor, disappearing into his classroom, ignoring the young woman and the man running after her.
Hermione's voice sounded distant even to her own ears, as she called out, 'Sir!' No reply. The door snapped shut, as her hunter jumped from the last stair, and dragged her to the ground. A scream left her lips, as Hermione's arms were pulled behind her back at odd angles, and her chest was trapped between the cold, stone floor, and the man lying on top of her. She could barely breathe.
Painfully, she raised her head, and looked up at the door, through which Severus had disappeared. Tears pricked her eyes as she screamed, 'SIR!'
The man pulled her roughly around. 'SIRRRR!' Hermione screamed in terror until her voice failed her, hoping that he would save her. She knew what would happen if he didn't.
Whimpering as the man pinned her down, whilst finding a more stable position, Hermione found herself unable to move. She couldn't escape. 'No,' she whispered in despair.
The man atop her snickered, asone of his hands left her stomach and tilted her head to face him. Lucius Malfoy.
Another whimper let her lips, as Hermione felt their combined weight have a negative impact on her arms, which were now digging painfully into her back.
Her eyes quickly darting to the door, Hermione gave one last plea, 'Sir…please…'
A second passed, and then, as if spared by some divine force, the door opened, revealing Severus. He stood over Hermione and her captor.
Lucius' hands left her jaw and waist, as he stood quickly and stumbled backwards, under Severus' imposing gaze.
He yelped in surprise before retreating back up the stairs, his footfalls present, long after he had left.
But what he had left, whilst a safer situation for Hermione, was an equally unnerving one.
She stared up at her Professor, uncertain of what to say. He simply stared back, his only reaction to the scene which he had just witnessed was to extend his right hand slightly.
Swallowing her terror, and overcoming her paralysis, Hermione accepted his help, allowing herself to be pulled upright and guided over the wall to use for balance.
'Are you ok?' he questioned, catching her off guard.
Hermione shied away from his probing eyes, as another bout of nerves invaded her senses.
'Y-yes sir.' Her voice sounded hoarse and weak.
Severus' eyes looked over her small figure before he nodded and turned around in a whirl of black robes. Faltering for a moment, uncertain of what to do, Hermione took a step forward, only to have the door closed in her face, as Severus left her where she stood.
AN: All characters in this story are owned by Mrs. Rowling.
Although this ficlet was based on a really vivid nightmare I had last night. It wasn't the context which bothered me, just the fact that I couldn't become lucid…ya know, control what you dream.I had to change the characters into HP ones for privacy reasons, and to add to my collect of stories...
Anyways, Reviews are welcome…toodles.
