Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, and various other publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN: I am a horrible FanFic author. It's been nearly a year since I've updated this story. I've no excuse really; I've managed to update other fics more regularly than I have this one. So, I apologise, profusely, and hope that this chapter make up for the wait. I've also had this chapter and the re-edits ready to go up for two weeks! But, the type 2 error has kept me from posting.

I've also changed a few details and re-written/polished up all of the chapters, though they are nowhere near perfect. The old version of Detentions was rather bad for grammar and general consistency in its earlier chapters.

Previously:

In her cat form, she found herself feeling sorry for him, though she had no idea what had happened. But, there was one thing she did know: this was the second time that she had walked out on Severus; she liked to think that she knew him well, so she knew that he would not take this well at all.

Being in her cat form her feline instincts had started to rule her actions. She had read once somewhere that if someone spent too long in their Animagus form in one go then the animal that they changed into would start to take over their human minds. When she first read it she thought that it made sense really, Sirius always seemed more alert and she could have sworn that his ears used to twitch constantly, but no matter how much she understood it, here in her cat form she started to wonder just how long she would be trapped.

~.~

"Very well then." Severus wanted to get up, wanted to run and find her but if anyone understood her need for space and time, it was he. "What is going to happen in the matter of the Eternus Dormio?"

"I don't know."

They were sat in the acrid smelling room; Albus perched on top of the chair opposite to Severus.

"What do you mean you don't know Severus? It's your potion after all."

"Yes, I'm very aware of that Albus," he snapped, then instantly regretted it as he saw the Headmaster's face fall. "What I meant to say was, I will go and have a look at the bottle and see if anyone has tampered with it." Not that they would have, he mused, his security wards had not been broken; the bottle would be fine, and he would be back to square one.

As soon as he got up from his chair, he fell back into it, clawing at his chest.

"My dear boy, whatever is the matter?" Albus asked, slightly stunned at his behaviour.

"I feel as though I've just been hit with a very strong Reducto," he said, after the initial wave of pain had passed.

"Reducto? But, that would mean-"

"Hermione," Severus breathed.

Without waiting for the Headmaster to say another word, he tore out of his chambers, leaving them unwarded, a sign of just how desperate he was. He raced towards the Entrance Hall, not caring that there were students out from lessons; some even had the indecency to call his name. He didn't care. Hermione was the only thought that occupied his mind. The only person who mattered to him, the only person he truly loved.

When he got to the Entrance Hall, he saw no one. Not even Peeves dared to cross him in his foul temper.

"Where is she?" he said to himself. "She couldn't have gone that far."

Severus started to make his way towards the Black Lake, mindful of the fact that the squid hadn't been fed in a week, when he felt his chest constrict painfully.

"Hermione," he whispered.

He felt a tear make its way down his face, but he didn't move to brush it away. He let it slide down his face, and tasted its saltiness when he flicked his tongue out to catch it.

"You're crying."

"Very well observed, Severus."

"Why?"

They were curled up in bed, safe in each other's arms when he felt, rather than saw - as she was spooned against his chest, a tear drip onto his arm.

"It's stupid."

"It can't be stupid if you're crying Hermione."

With little effort on his part, he managed to turn her around in his arms, so she was facing his chest.

"Tell me?"

He lifted his hand towards her face and smoothed down the hair which clouded her from his view. The edge of his middle finger caught one of the tears and he brought it to his mouth, and savoured the saltiness of her tears, tears she shed for an unknown reason.

"Did you enjoy that?" she asked, her eyes transfixed to his mouth.

His response was lost in his throat as she attacked his mouth with a fervour usually attributed to a wild cat.

She never did tell him why he was crying.

He was brought out of his revere by Albus, but as soon as he heard the words 'Harry Potter has left Hogwarts' he wished that he could lose himself in his memories again.

"I don't see-"

"Hermione's gone too Severus, think about it."

"You think Harry Potter took Hermione?"

"Yes."

"Are you mad?"

"No, just senile."

But Albus' joke was lost on Severus; his response had left his mind whirring. If Potter had taken Hermione then who knows where they would be? Heaven's knows the boy was rash at the best of time and if he had taken her-

"Severus? I think it may be best to call your mother."

Well there was something you didn't hear every day, Severus mused.

"My mother?"

"Yes, Severus, you know the woman who gave birth to you?"

"I know who my mother is Albus," he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

"Then you know she's one of the best at tracking lost wizards and witches."

Severus paused and at a moment of deliberation said, "Go on."

"Severus, I'm not trying to force your hand at a family reunion-"

"Could have fooled me," he grumbled, running an agitated hand through his hair.

"-but I think our best bet at finding Hermione is your mother, Severus."

There, he had said it. Albus had voiced the pink elephant in the grounds.

"Call her," he groused, "but don't expect me to be civil towards her."

"I wouldn't dream of it Severus, are you coming?"

"No, I'll be ten minutes Albus."

"Very well then, I'll see you inside, in ten minutes."

As soon as Albus was out of sight, Severus let out a sigh; he couldn't do this. It was all too much for him to handle; first Hermione nearly dies, and then she knows he is the one who brewed the potion that nearly killed her, and then she goes missing, and now his mother is coming to track her down. It was too surreal. How could so much happen in one day?

~.~

"Here you go Little One, some nice cold milk."

Hermione titled her head to the side; milk wasn't going to fill her up, but she lowered her heard and lapped at it anyway.

"I've got to go out soon; I've got to see a man about a dog."

At the word 'dog', Hermione stopped drinking her milk and looked at Harry, her ears perked up, and her tail flicked dangerously.

As if sensing the change in her, Harry added, "Not a real dog ... it's just an expression. Hermione would get it."

Seeing that this seemed to calm her, he bent down to give her a pat on her head, before leaving the room.

"If only you knew Harry," she whispered in the safety of her mind, "if only you knew."

A huge thank you for all the reviews so far, they really do help me to write. :)