Chapter 10

Hello! I'm about halfway through exam season and it's half term, so you get an update! I've written and rewritten this chapter a few times, but it hasn't really seemed that good, so I'm just going to give it to you and hope for the best. After about three weeks I'll be done with GCSE's, and have a 12 week summer to write, so look forward to that :)

I've also got another fic idea, a sort of doctor who/harry potter crossover that I've been working on, where the doctor and rose's daughter goes to hogwarts with Teddy Lupin, so let me know if you'd be interested in that.

Also, thankyou to everyone who has favorited, followed and especially reviewed! I have had so many notifications and it makes me smile every time ^.^

Enjoy!

"So, what we know is that Hermione and Severus are connected, this bond, and Severus has been captured."

Dora Lupin stood at the front of the transfiguration classroom, hands on her hips and furiously determined expression on her face. The other people in the room were sat behind desks, and the whole situation seemed funnily like a lesson.

"Do we know if he's unconscious?" Harry asked, worried.

"No, he isn't." Minerva said, pursing her lips. "If he was, Hermione would be too. He is silent though, for now, and Poppy will let us know if that changes. She's with Hermione in the hospital wing."

"Okay. Do you know why he was taken, Minerva? Did he leave anything behind?" Dora spoke.

"He came to speak to me, he was worried about you and Hermione because Lucius had found out the truth about Narcissa and Draco. He said he was going to let you guys get on with your evening, then changed his mind and started heading to the Hogs Head. Then, I got a patronus saying Lucius had gotten him, but he didn't mention where."

"Okay, so he'll be trying to get Severus to tell him where Narcissa and Draco are, then. So, what we need to do is put extra protection on their safehouse, and wait for him to talk to Hermione, then we can make a plan." It was obvious Tonks was an auror first, professor second, with her reasoning and coolness under pressure.

"Harry and I can go." Ron suggested.

"Okay, so you two can go and help Narcissa and Draco, make sure you reinforce the wards." They found out the location, and then Ron and Harry disappeared.

"The rest of you can probably head off for the moment, I'm going to go and talk to Hermione, then we can put a plan in place. If you want, you guys can wait at our place."

"I think I'm going to go." Ginny said, "I'll catch up with Harry and Ron later."

"Sirius, we can take Teddy back." Remus spoke, voice a little nervous. "Minerva, Dora, we'll see you later." The others nodded, and Tonks made her way to the hospital wing, to talk to Hermione.

She entered the hospital wing, seeing Hermione sat on a bed, talking to Madam Pomfrey.

"Hey, Hermione. How are you feeling?" She nodded kindly at Poppy, who disappeared, leaving the two alone.

"A little better, but I keep getting these waves of pain."

"Pain from Severus?"

She nodded. "I think so. I can't hear him yet."

"But he's still conscious? Still alive."

"Well, I am both of those things, so I guess."

"Right, sorry." Tonks rubbed her face. "Look, if you need to talk, I'm always here. I'm sorry people have had to find out about this, you've had a horrible night, and I've just been interrogating you. I wasn't being fair."

"No, no, it's no problem. We really must get him back. Lucius is out for blood unless he gets his family."

"We'll make sure Severus is okay." Hermione's jaw dropped suddenly, and Tonks was confused. "What, are you okay?"

"He… I can hear him." She paused, hand up to stop tonks from talking. "Lucius wants Narcissa and Draco. He, he says that if he doesn't get them by Sunday at 6 then he…" Hermione paled.

"What is it?"

"He'll kill Severus."

Space.

That was what Hermione needed, away from the fussing of everyone and the panicking over plans.

She just needed somewhere quite to think, to talk properly to Severus.

Hello, are you there? She called out, mentally, as she reached a place she had sat in before - the astronomy tower.

Yes, Hermione. Are you okay?

I think I should be asking you that. How are you?

Alive, Lucius isn't happy, I haven't ever seen him like this before. I don't know where I am, I think we're at a deatheater house somewhere, but I don't know, the room I'm in is dark and I don't have my wand.

Okay. Is there any way we can trick him? How can we stop him hurting you and getting his family?

I, I don't know… he's back, wait a moment.

And so, with baited breath, Hermione waited. She felt twinges of pain, but heard nothing, so Severus was keeping her out whilst he talked to Lucius, presumably to stop her from hearing him suffer.

Okay, I'm okay. He was back, and she almost gasped in relief.

Did he say anything important?

He attempted, and I mean attempted, to use legilimency upon me. He wanted to find out where they were from memories. I… deflected him.

Into seeing what? I presume you used your occlumency, altered memories.

Yes. I just showed him memories, of when he worked for Voldemort. He didn't realise though, that I am an occlumens, I just made it seem like I was distracted.

That's good. Right, so I have an idea.

Go on.

So, if you alter memories and make it seem like we are keeping them in one place, then he can come and try to get them, but we'll be waiting ready.

Okay, so how are we going to get me afterwards?

Try to get him to take you with him, if you can. I , erm… We need to be fast, for several reasons…

Yes, I am aware of the impending consequences. Don't worry.

How are you going to make him take you?

I don't know…

Give me a moment, I'll have a think.

Clearly, that is something you never cease to do.

Thanks, really nice.

Sorry, please think - if you can - if there is something.

Better, you actually sound like a pleasant human being now.

Ha, if only.

With a chuckle, Hermione focused, wracking her brain to see if there was some way of thinking how Lucius could bring Severus with him.

The consequences, if he didn't, would be awful. With it being Sunday (in the very early morning), and the bond renewal being the next day, they had to get him back as soon as possible. However, Hermione reasoned, because Lucius knew this, he would be unlikely to tell them Severus' location after being captured, so if they were both going to survive, it had to work.

Severus had sent memories, of his time being a death eater, but where had those locations been. Lucius' mansion? Another member's house? Severus' house? No, Hermione reasoned, Snape would surely have protection on his house that only allowed certain people in. Powerful wards that would prevent people from finding out about his work on both sides.

That was it! Snape's house would have wards, so if he was keeping Narcissa and Draco there, then the only way Lucius could get them would be to bring Severus with him.

That may work, well done.

Thanks, do you think you can do it?

Yes, when I see him next. Are you with Remus and Nymphadora?

No, I'm in the astronomy tower.

Your usual depressing spot? Nice optimistic choice.

Shut up… it's a good place to think.

You should go and tell them the plan. Stay near them, when I next see Lucius you will need to get to my house quickly, I will let you know.

Okay. Do they know where your house is?

Sirius and Remus do, Minerva does as well.

Okay. You should get some rest.

I'll go now, goodnight.

Night.

Hermione took a moment, thinking as she found herself looking out of the window onto the grounds. The last time she had been stood in that space, things had been so much different. In little time, so much had changed between her and Severus, for the better.

And yet, it still felt like too much had changed, all too fast. People had just found out, and Hermione knew if they were successful in capturing Lucius then there would be a trial, where more people would surely discover the truth. Did Hermione feel ready for that? No, but she had little choice in the matter.

Thinking that all of this reflection was probably keeping Severus awake, and wasn't really helping herself, Hermione walked down the dark stairs and corridors, heading to Remus and tonks' rooms, to see the rest of the people. She knocked on the door, and it was opened almost immediately by Remus, who had a nervous look on his face.

"Hermione, you're here." His frown eased slightly, and he beckoned her in. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I need to speak to you all, I've been talking to Severus."

He nodded, and led her through, where everyone was sat, except for harry and Ron, who were still reinforcing the wards at Narcissa and Draco's safehouse.

"Guys, I have a plan." She said, looking around at the people attentively waiting.

"Okay, fire away." Tonks said, and Hermione sat down before starting.

"So, Lucius has tried to use legilimency on Severus to find out where Narcissa and Draco are, and Snape deflected him, but it made us think, if we could alter memories of Severus putting Narcissa and Draco somewhere they weren't, we could wait there and catch him."

"That's good, but how are we going to get Severus?" Sirius asked, and Tonks nodded.

"Well, we were thinking because his house has wards on it that only let him in, then Lucius would have to bring Severus with him. We need to make sure that happens, we don't have time to find Severus after Lucius is captured, plus he would be unlikely to tell us. So, we need to wait at his house, then they will arrive and we could get them and arrest Lucius.

"Yeah I like it, really, well done Hermione!" Tonks exclaimed happily. "So, I take it Severus will let you know when it's time?"

"Thank you, yes he will. He's left him for now, but when he next tries to interrogate him I'll let you know so you guys can go and get him."

"Okay. Remus and I know where Severus lives, so Remus can apparate Dora, and I'll take Kinsley, we should get him from the ministry." Sirius said, leaving to collect the minister.

"So, everyone's sorted?" Tonks asked, and the people around the room nodded. "Well, now we wait."

Hermione had been asleep when she had felt it, the familiar twinges of pain that told her Severus was being interrogated, before she heard him, in her head, again.

Hermione, its time. I've prepared the memory, you won't have much time.

Okay, everyone is ready, we'll go.

Right, I'll see you soon.

"Okay, guys, its time." She spoke, waking them up. They sprang into action, and Sirius, Dora and Kingsley apparated, whilst Remus took her arm gently.

"Ready?" he asked, softly. Hermione nodded, before the familiar pull of apparition dragged her into the void, and out.

The weather was cloudy in the street where they landed, and the overcast clouds seemed to surround them as they looked at the large house. Surprisingly, for such a downtrodden man, the house was normal, with a small garden and a red door.

"Will the wards let us in?" Tonks asked, but Remus shook his head.

"We'll have to wait, hide. When they arrive ill have set up a portable cell." Kingsley said. "It can contain him, temporarily, until Dora and I will get him back to the ministry. Remus, Sirius and Hermione, you need to take Severus back to Madame Pomfrey. Hermione, do you know how he is?"

"Not really, but he's been tortured, I just don't know how badly yet."

"Okay, so one of you two will need to take him back, Remus or Sirius."

"Alright, that's okay." They got into their hiding places, and prepared.

Soon enough, they heard a small crack, and the sight of the two appeared. Severus was being held up by Lucius, barely conscious, and Hermione let out a small gasp at the sight of him, face bruised and pale, looking barely alive.

"Hermione, don't, it's okay." She heard to her left, and Tonks put a reassuring hand upon her knee. However, just as the shield was about to snap up, Tonks stumbled on a twig, causing Lucius to whip around, firing a sectumsempra curse.

The shield was in place, and Severus collapsed to the floor next to it, as Tonks did the same next to Hermione, too distracted to have noticed the curse aimed her way. She was bleeding heavily, and things moved quickly, but Hermione was in a daze, as Sirius and Kinglsey ran towards Severus, and Remus ran towards Tonks, all crying out. Kinglsey grabbed Lucius, placing some magical handcuff on him and taking his wand as Lucius spat violent insults at him, none of which Hermione seemed to be capable of hearing.

Kinglsey apparated with him, and Remus took Tonks away swiftly in his arms, knowing Madame Pomfrey's help was needed fast for the woman to survive. This left Sirius and Severus, and Hermione rushed over towards them, heart pounding.

"Is he okay?" she asked worriedly, and Sirius looked up at her from the ground.

"I've performed some healing spells, madam Pomfrey will be busy with Dora. He'll be okay, let's get back to the castle, yeah?" Hermione nodded tearfully.

"Okay, come on love." He said, and grabbed her arm gently, as he apparated the three of them away.

Once they had returned, Hermione found herself being sat down in a daze, on an uncomfortable hospital chiar. Tonks and Severus were ebing tended to, and Hermione was dimly aware that Sirius was sat opposite her, trying to talk, but she wasn't listening.

Instead, she was braced, lloking at the ground, trying to stem the tears that threatened tto flow from her eyes. She was busy thinking about how useless she was, really. During the war, she thought things had been good, that she had been good, but as soon as she was put into a stressful situation she had just zoned out.

"Hermione? Hermione, please try to listen to me." Sirius said, and gently touched her knee. She looked up at him, and he opened his arms, as she leaned in to hug him tearfully. He rubbed her back, and she found the tears she had been trying so hard to repress coming back in waves, streaming from her eyes.

"Its okay, yeah? They're both going to be okay, I promise you."

"Yeah. It is, isn't it." She said quietly, as he rubbed her shoulder.

"Go and find a bed, have a little sleep, it's been a long night for all of us." He said, and Hermione nodded, getting up and heading to a bed. She lay down, tucked herself in, and drifted quickly off to sleep.

Hermione, try not to worry.

His voice woke her up, and she glanced quickly around, seeing she was still in her hospital cubicle, dressed in some pyjamas Madame Pomfrey had clearly put her in. It was dark, late at night, but she had been dreaming about him, that must have been what he heard.

Sorry, I couldn't help it, are you okay?

It's not your fault, don't worry. I'm a lot better, just need rest.

Are you sure?

Positively certain. I have been in much worse states.

But, what I felt…

Hermione, Sirius has done a good job, surprisingly. I promise you, I'm not going to hurt you because I'm ill.

That's why you think I'm worried? For myself?

Hermione got up, padded across to the cubicle Severus was in, and opened the curtain gingerly. He was still, seeming asleep, but met her eyes. She saw pain, but he wasn't too bad, after all.

"Why else would you be worried?" he spoke, quietly, almost hopefully.

"Because, I do care about you. It was my fault, that he got you. I should have-"

"Don't, hindsight will do you no favours. I'm going to be fine, and so will Nymphadora."

"You won't be if you keep calling her that."

"True." He chuckled, and Hermione found herself sitting on the edge of the bed. He shifted, slightly, so she had more room, and she turned, lying gently next to him, his hand in hers.

What are you doing?

Sorry, it's the only way I won't worry.

Oh Hermione… It isn't necessary.

Shut up and let me sleep.

She was on top of the covers, and him underneath, but she could feel his warmth through the blankets, and, for once, it did not scare her. He lay on his back, and she lay facing him, falling into a sleep that this time held no nightmares.

Something had definitely changed between them, and Hermione felt it.