Fire And The Flood

Chapter Two

Year 1998

"I can't- I can't be sure," Severus could hear his godson's terrified voice trembling. Severus stood back not willing to enter the room quite yet. Stay hidden he reminded himself. If there was any hope of helping the children it was to stay as hidden and stay that way for long as possible.

"Look carefully Draco!" Lucius Malfoy's voice echoed through the room and into the hallway. Severus had never heard his friend sound so excited. How far had the graceful one fallen? He must truly need a win to allow his family to survive through this.

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy?" Greyback sounded as menacing as always but it seemed the further the dark ages continued to grow the darker true darkness shown completely driving out all light. Severus could feel the hopelessness continue to grow around him.

"Of course not!" said Lucius impatiently. "How did he even get to this state?" the once well put together man was falling apart around the edges. "It looks as though he's been hit with a stinging jinx... Draco, come here, look properly!"

"I don't know..." Severus knew and Draco had to know it was them. He could see the trembling bushy haired witch. There was no doubt that it was the golden trio. They had done so well at staying hidden for so long. How had they gotten caught now. Severus' teeth grinded slightly. How was he going to get them out of this mess without getting them all killed.

"We have to be certain, Lucius," Narcissa called, she was the best at in the family hiding her fear. "Completely sure that it is Potter, before we summon the Dark Lord... They say this is his" Severus moved slightly to get a better look of the room. Narcissa was holding a wand. "but it does not resemble Ollivander's description... If we are mistake, if we call the Dark Lord here for nothing... Remember what he did to Rowle and Dolohov?"

"What of the Mudblood, then?" Severus flinched slightly at the word. He found her shaking. Harry was pushed to the back and she was pulled forward. How had she aged so much in the time he had last saw her. No longer a child. But a woman who had saw death. Who had fought in war. So old yet so young.

"Wait," said Narcissa sharply "Yes- Yes, she was in Madam Malkin's with Potter! I saw her picture in the profit! Look, Draco, isn't it the Granger girl?"

Draco's eyes widened and he looked at Hermione. "I..." He couldn't lie this one. This would be too difficult to lie over. He had to protect his family. He didn't want to hurt her. "Maybe... yeah." He looked away. Brown eyes had never shown so much fear. She continued to look around trying to formulate some kind of escape. She had to find a way. This would not be the end. She looked past Draco and into the other room. Her eyes widened for a split moment when she found Severus watching. He brought his had up to his mouth and signaled for her to stay quite of him watching. She swallowed hard. Dumbledore always trusted him. He swore in him. She needed to do the same...

The drawing room door opened behind the group and Severus instantly felt uneasy.

"What is this? What's happened, Cissy?" Bellatrix Lestrange walked slowly into the room rounding the prisoners. Her eyes landed on the young girl. "but surely," a wide grin spread across her lips. "This is the Mudblood girl? This is Granger?"

"Yes! And we think we have Potter! Potter and his friends caught at last!"

"Potter!" Bellatrix shrieked in delight. Harry, Hermione and Ron all froze in fear. They knew this was possible when they started the journey. They knew that something like this could happen. Why did they think... why weren't they more prepared. Harry felt sick to his stomach. His friends were in real danger. Hermione was a muggle born. She could be tortured. She could be killed. They would all be killed if Voldemort were to show.

"Stupify" The trio stood still in fear. The hex sent out at the snatchers across the room. They had all know of her skill and sure power. All the snatchers fell to the ground except Greyback who was the witches focus at the moment. Hermione continued to look around the room to find anything to help them. "Where did you get this sword?" She whispered so loudly they could all hear.

"How dare you?" he snarled but did not move. "Release me woman!"

"Where did you find this sword?" she repeated, "Snape sent it to my vault in Gringotts!" Hermione's eyes shifted up at the man in question and she knew. He had placed it there for them. He was on their side. He always had been. There had to be a reason he killed Dumbledore. There had to be a reason for all of it. He would help them. He would keep them safe. He wasn't evil.

"Wait.." said Bellatrix, Hermione noticed that they had started to move Harry and Ron. "All except... except for the Mudblood..." Hermione's blood turned cold.

"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!" Bellatrix hit him across the face; the blow echoed around the room.

"If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," She smiled "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book." Hermione watched as her two best friends where dragged away. This was not good. If they were separeted how would they make it back together? They hadn't planned on being thrown apart. It was only by luck that Ron was able to come back to them before. This time... maybe there would be not next time. She looked back to Snape's hiding spot to find that he was gone. All hope she had was now vanished. There was no hope. This was war. And she was living in a make believe land where the good always won.

Hermione was pushed on the ground her back dug into the marble floor beneath her. She could feel the weight of the witch over top of her and the insane pain as a knife dug into her skin. She couldn't stop herself. She screamed. She didn't want to. She didn't want to give the evil woman the satisfaction of hearing her screams. The echoed in her head and around them. She watched as Draco turned away. "Where did you get this sword?" the dark haired witch asked. Hermione looked up at her with no fear in her eyes.

"I won't tell you-"

"Crucio,"

Every cell in her body felt like it was exploding. She felt like she could never moved again. She wanted the pain to end. She needed the pain to end. Her screams were so loud she could hear nothing else. Her eyes came back into focus to the witch on top of her carving into her skin with the knife but the pain did nothing now. It felt numb. She felt numb. She felt dead already. "I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?"

"We found it! We found it! Please" She just wanted this to end.

"What else did you take!? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife!"

Hermione shook her head. There were no more words in her mind to speak there was no more that she could think or feel. "CRUCIO!" there it was again the explosions all over her body. The never ending pain. The spasms continued even after the spell was removed. "How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix screeched "Did that goblin help you?"

"We only met him tonight!" Hermione sobbed "We've never been inside your vault... It isn't even the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!" Hermione tried to catch her breath and find her heart rate. She was sure this was death. She was sure she would be dead soon. Tears continued to fall from her eyes. She looked over at her arm. In bloody deep letters she could make out the words MUDBLOOD so clearly. How strange to be gifted into such a world to only find this was her life. She watched as the Goblin came from the cellar at the same time Severus Snape came walking into the room quietly he made his way over to Draco who was close by them.

"What was that?" Lucius asked "Wormtail!"

Severus watched, waiting. He heard the apparition. He knew some how those lucky boys were going to find a way out. His eyes looked down at the dark haired muggleborn. He knew that he had to do something. Something more then just hiding. He watched her hiccup.

"Are you sure?" Bellatrix's loud voice broke the mans thought process. A large grin continued to spread across her face.

"Yes," Griphook said "It is a fake,"

Relief broke through the room. "Good," she licked her lips before flicking her wand causing a great gash to cover the goblins face. "And now," she smiled in triumph "We call the Dark Lord," she pushed back her sleeve and touched her forefinger to the Dark Mark. This was it. This was the moment of truth. The moment he needed to show true courage. Severus looked up in time to watch Harry and Ron making there way into view. "And I think," Bellatrix started "We can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback take her if you want her."

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

As Ron and Harry bursted into the room. "Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix's wand flew from her hand and into the air. Harry grabbed it effortlessly.

"Stupify!" Lucius collapsed. Severus pushed Draco from the room.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!" Hermione tucked into the woman's hold the knife that was used on her minutes before pressed to her neck. "Drop your wands," She whispered. "Drop them, or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is! I said drop them!"

The two boys dropped the wands just as Dobby apparated into the room next to Harry and Ron. Severus instantly knew how they were all getting out. Severus pulled his want from his sleeve.

"Severus?" Cissy whispered. Bellatrix turned to look at him. With a quick flick of his wand the chandelier trembled. Bellatrix looked at Snape with sheer hate on her face. She dropped the muggle born and ran from the spot as the chandelier came tumbling down on the goblin and Hermione. Severus ran forward casting a disarming spelled on Cissy her wand flying towards him. He turned and looked at the boys.

"Go!" he called He grabbed the Goblins hand and pulled Hermione to his chest. "I'll find you!" and with a pop the two teams were gone.

A/N

Second chapter already done... like I said I've been having major need to write this! Keeps me up at night lol Hope you all enjoyed. Please leave me some feed back! Let me know what you liked didn't like! Thanks a bunch!