Love Everlasting

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to JK Rowling, but the plot belongs to me.

            Tears were streaming down her face as she walked quickly through the halls. But Hermione wasn't walking fast enough to make it safely back to her rooms. She didn't know that one of Voldemort's Death Eaters had made his way into Hogwarts. And we're not talking about Severus Snape, a Death Eater sent by Voldemort to kidnap the smartest "mudblood" in Hogwarts. As she walked past him, the Death Eater whispered the spell for a full body-bind. Hermione fell to the floor, completely unable to move or speak. Her threw Hermione roughly over his shoulder and took her to Hogsmeade, where they apparated to a grand ballroom in the Malfoy Mansion. When she was taken out of the full body-bind, Hermione found herself bound and gagged, tied to a chair. She had no idea that the torture was just about to begin.

            Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Harry woke up with a start, his hand clutching the scar on his forehead. He got up, threw on his robes, and ran to Dumbledore's office. Ever since the beginning of his fifth year, Harry always knew the password to Dumbledore's office. He shouted "soda pop" to the sleeping gargoyle that sleepily jumped out of the way. Dumbledore was already waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

            "Yes, Harry. Voldemort is at work today. I have already called for Professor Snape. It's possible that he knows what is going on."

            "Why would we even want to believe what Snape tells you? Let's say he does know what's going on, why would he tell us the truth?"

            "Harry, Professor Snape may have once been a pawn of Lord Voldemort, but now he has renounced his evil ways and is greatly helping us by spying on the evil of Voldemort. If anyone knows, he will. And he will help."

            With that said, Severus came sauntering into the office. He sat by the fire, staring into the flames. Severus held his head in his hands, wracked with guilt.

            "Severus, do you know what's going on with Lord Voldemort?"

            "Yes, I do," he replied, speaking slowly and deliberately. "He has taken Miss….Miss….Hermione, they've taken Hermione."

            Dumbledore stood up and moved over to where Severus was sitting. He put his hand on Severus' shoulder.

            "Severus, I was under the impression that Miss Granger was safe."

            "Well, Albus, something happened tonight, and now she's gone."

            "Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, will someone please tell me what's going on here? I don't understand. What do you mean Hermione's gone? What happened tonight?"

            "I will explain later, Potter," Severus was getting a bit angry. "But for now, we need to concentrate on finding Miss Granger before Voldemort kills her. He is most likely torturing her as we speak."

            "I have contacted the rest of the Professors; we are leaving tonight. Hagrid, Professor Trelawny, and Professor Proteja will remain here to watch over the students. They will keep the school safe. Severus, we will be leaving momentarily; once the rest of the professors arrive. Harry, I know this will be hard for you, but you must remain here."

            Harry stood up and looked angrily at Dumbledore and Snape. "I will not stay here! Hermione is my best friend and I won't stay here quietly while you go to find my best friend, who for all we know may be dead!!"

            The soft twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes calmed the fire in Harry's. "She is still alive, Harry. Voldemort is a sucker for big productions, especially when it involves a beautiful, intelligent Muggle-born witch. We would have heard something had she been killed. Now, please Harry. It's safer if you remain here."

            Harry stared at Snape, "She better come back tonight, alive, or I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand me, Professor Snape?"

            "Mr. Potter," Severus replied with a sad softness in his voice. "I would like nothing more in this life than to see Miss Granger back here at Hogwarts, safe and sound. I know you may not believe me, but I do not hate you, Miss Granger, or Mr. Weasley. I promise that I will see her back here safe, even if it kills me."

            "Fine, Snape, but I will hold you to that promise."

            Harry stormed out of Dumbledore's office and went back to his room. All of the professors gathered in the Headmaster's office for a briefing before leaving to go find Hermione.

            "Alright everyone," Dumbledore said with an air of urgency. "We must all be ready for a fight. I do not know how many Death Eaters will be present with Voldemort, but there will be a fight. Anyone that doesn't wish to go will not be forced to."

            No one moved, everyone stood ready to fight Voldemort. Three Aurors walked into the room and one nodded to Dumbledore.

            "The Aurors have located Voldemort. Hopefully Miss Granger is with him. It is time for us to go. Have your wands ready and I thank you in advance for helping us with the fight."

            At the Snape mansion, Voldemort was watching silently as his Inner Circle of Death Eaters, 5 wizards in black robes and masks, tortured the beautiful young witch. They had untied her, stripped her naked, and were having fun watching her writhe in pain as they performed the Crutiatus Curse on her over and over.

Hermione was barely conscious now, after being hit with the curse at least half a dozen times. Carelessly, Voldemort had invited his look-out inside the ballroom to join in the "fun". So no one was around to hear the faint popping noise outside the mansion. Dumbledore, the professors, and the three Aurors apparated inside the mansion gates. The Aurors would go after Voldemort while the professors took care of the Death Eaters. Severus would find Hermione and leave with her as soon as she was found. They carefully crept inside and followed the Aurors to the ballroom. They burst in the room, Aurors flinging curses left and right before the Death Eaters realized what was going on. The fight went on for about two hours. Three of the Death Eaters were killed, the other two captured. Voldemort was injured but a few curses, but he managed to escape. Severus found Hermione unconscious in a corner behind a pillar. He nearly cried out when he saw her battered and broken body in a crumpled heap on the tile floor. Removing his robe and wrapping it around her, Severus gently lifted the bruised and bloody girl and cradled her him his arms. Her breathing became wheezy and Severus worked more quickly to get her out of there. He closed his eyes and concentrated on apparating to Hogsmeade, where the team had left from. The battle was still going on when Severus disappeared with Hermione in his arms. Dumbledore whispered to McGonagall, who was fighting next to him, "Hermione's safe. Severus just left with her." Knowing that their Head Girl was safe, the professors fought with a renewed fervor. The fight was over when Voldemort disapparated; the Death Eaters had already been finished with. The Aurors left with the Death Eaters, dead or alive, in tow, heading to Azkaban. The professors apparated back to Hogsmeade and quickly caught up with Severus. He was walking quickly, but carefully, trying not to injure Hermione further.

            "Will she be alright, Severus?" Professor McGonagall pleadingly asked, looking as though she was going to faint any second.

            "It will be a long recovery, Minerva. She was hit with the Crutiatus Curse at lease a dozen times. But if anyone can save her, Poppy can."

            Once inside Hogwarts, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sprout, Hooch, and Vector surrounded Severus and Hermione as he carried her to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore led them inside and woke up Madam Pomfrey. Severus gently laid Hermione on a bed next to the window, pulled his robe off of her, and covered her with a soft green blanket. A very tired Madam Pomfrey came out of her bedchambers and paled completely to white when she saw Hermione on the bed.

            "What in the world has happened to this child?" Madam Pomfrey said in shock.

            "Voldemort kidnapped her. Crutiatus. Please, Poppy, please help her," Severus looked at Madam Pomfrey with an incredible amount of pleading in his eyes.

            "I'll do what I can, but injuries like these cannot easily be fixed in one day."

            "We understand completely, Poppy. Take good care of her."

            Everyone left except Dumbledore and Severus. Poppy pulled back the blanket and took a deep breath. Her injuries were incredibly extensive and would take a lot of magic to heal her. She looked from Severus, who was holding Hermione's hand and brushing her hair off of her face, to Dumbledore with a puzzled look on her face.

            "Poppy, Severus will be staying with Miss Granger whenever he is not teaching a class. He will be more than happy to assist you in any way he can, isn't that right, Severus?"

            "Yes, anything I can do to help please let me know and I will do it."

            "I will leave you two alone to care for Miss Granger. Work hard and fast Poppy. She needs you," Dumbledore said as he walked out of the Hospital Wing.

            Madam Pomfrey quickly went to work, repairing her internal injuries with a few complex charms. Once they heard her breathing become less labored, she could work a little slower, Hermione was, for the most part, out of the woods. She put a few drops of Dreamless Sleep potion on Hermione's tongue and watched as Hermione's entire body greatly relaxed.

            "Now, Severus, I know you don't want to leave, but I need you to make me a potion to reduce swelling, and another to ease the pain. Poor girl's wrist is terribly broken. It will be simple to repair the broken bones, but the muscles need to fix themselves which will be quite painful."

            "Yes, I understand. I will return as soon as the potions are completed," Severus replied in a sort of eloquent shock.

            The potions were simple enough, so they were done in about 2 hours. He took a quick shower and changed clothes, deciding that it wouldn't be a good idea to stay in the same clothes without showering for more than a day. When he returned with the potions, Madam Pomfrey had repaired the bones in her broken wrist and healed most of the cuts and bruises that practically covered her small body. Severus dabbed the creamy anti-swelling potion on her slightly swollen cheek and also on her wrist. Madam Pomfrey then wrapped her hand and wrist in a lightweight immobilizing bandage and finally dressed her in a long gauzy nightgown. Hermione shifted a little at the movement, but was comfortably sleeping again in a few moments. Severus stood up and moved to the door.

            "Don't you want to stay and wait until she wakes up, Severus?"

            "She won't want to see me when she wakes up. I'm going to get Potter. He will want to see her."

            Madam Pomfrey just watched as Severus left looking rather sad. He went to the Great Hall as it was now breakfast time. He sauntered over to where Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table. Placing a cold hand on his shoulder, Severus caused Harry to jump a bit as he turned around.

            "Mr. Potter, I believe I had a promise to you which I have kept. Miss Granger is in the Hospital Wing, sleeping, if you wish to see her. Madam Pomfrey had to immobilize her severely broken wrist and she's a bit bruised, but our dear Miss Granger will be fine."

            Severus continued walking as soon as he had finished speaking. Harry stood up and briskly walked to catch up with Severus.

            "Professor Snape!" Harry called and Severus stopped. "I umm, I wanted to thank you for keeping your promise and taking care of Hermione. I mean, it was very nice of you to risk your life to bring her back."

            "As I told you earlier, Potter, I do not hate you or Miss Granger."

            Harry went quickly to the Hospital Wing and sat next to Hermione. He just sat there, watching her sleep, and holding her good hand. After a few hours, he turned his chair to look out the window. Of course, Hermione woke up as Harry was looking out the window with his back to her. All she could see through a sleepy haze was a dark robe and dark hair. Through her tiredness and pain, she reached out with the hand that didn't hurt incredibly and touched him on the shoulder.

            "Severus?"