Chapter 11
For All The Love In The World
Hermione sat in the section of the library she liked to think of as her 'sanctuary'. She could see McGonagall working at a table nearby, annoyed at the noise some students were making. In an act of kindness she felt she may regret later, she stepped out of her niche and walked towards the Professor.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Granger?" McGonagall looked up and sighed.
"If you would like some peace and quiet, I can show you the Gryffindor study room."
"Thank you. I had no peace in the staff room, and I don't seem to be getting any here, either." Hermione picked up a few of McGonagall's books and papers and starting walking away.
"You will have to touch me the first time we enter, Professor, so that the room accepts your entrance. But after that you will be able to see the entrance and therefore enter on your own. At least that's how it should work. I don't know if it will work the same way for a Professor."
"Professor Snape can enter the Slytherin one."
"Yes, but I believe he found it as a student so maybe it works differently."
"Perhaps." McGonagall placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Ready?"
"Yes. Lead the way."
Hermione stepped around several bookcases and then squeezed through what looked like an impossibly small gap between two of them.
McGonagall gasped when they finally stepped through. "It's no wonder I never found this place."
"I found it when I was trying to escape Ron - he wanted to copy my homework."
"I hope you didn't let him." McGonagall looked sternly at her.
"I may have given in if it hadn't have been for this place. I spent the rest of the day cleaning. There is a book on that shelf that tells of how and why the rooms were created and also, at the back, the names of those who have gained access to each, as well as an added entry of the location of the others."
"Severus said that he didn't know that location of the others, only that the Gryffindor one hadn't been in use for a long time."
"Maybe that is because Slytherins can't be trusted with that knowledge."
"That would make sense."
"He was right, though. The Gryffindor one hasn't been in use for a long time. The others are used regularly. The same names always come up, suggesting that siblings and parents are sharing the locations of the room for their House, and that there are different rules to each House. The whole of Slytherin, except the first years, seem to have always had access to their room."
"Hmm, the first years have to prove themselves, it would seem."
"That is the same conclusion I came up with."
"Did you clean this all by yourself?"
"Yes, with magic as well as traditional elbow grease." Hermione smiled. "I also transfigured all the furniture. Everything appeared to be broken when I first entered."
"I must congratulate you, then. Your work, as always, is excellent." McGonagall made her way to an empty table. "I must get to work now, though."
"Of course." Hermione took the books and papers she was carrying to McGonagall's preferred table and set them down before making her way to her own table.
Hermione finished up her research into raw magic and collected her notes together, before moving near the fire and settling into an overstuffed armchair with a big book. Occasionally, she glanced up and McGonagall, but her attention was placed on her favourite book in front of her, Hogwarts: A History.
McGonagall sat in Dumbledore's office, smiling as he begged for the information on the rooms. "Minnie, please."
"No, Albus. She trusted me with the information; I will not betray her trust."
"I was in Gryffindor! You can trust me."
"I do not trust you to not meddle. It is the only place she can get away from everyone and not be bothered. I will not have you telling the boys where she is just to ease their worries if they can't find her!"
"But..."
"Plus, it means I can go somewhere that you can't go." McGonagall laughed. "And know something you don't know!"
"But, my dear, I know that at times you can be easily swayed."
"Do not use your tricks on me! I will not give into you."
"Tricks, my dear Minnie? I have no idea what you are referring to..."
"Albus Dumbledore, you should have been sorted into Slytherin. I will not tell you where the room is... that is the end of this discussion!"
"How is Miss Granger?" His eyes twinkling.
"She is well."
"Perhaps you should offer her an apprenticeship."
"I was thinking of that myself." Dumbledore smiled; he had managed to get her to calm from her fierce temper.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing, my dear. Absolutely nothing."
"Yes, well, I don't believe that for one second," McGonagall sighed. "I think our Miss Granger would benefit from taking some of her NEWTs early. Then maybe she would relax a bit. Even I agree there is such a thing as studying too much."
"I agree. Perhaps you could tell her when you speak with her about the apprenticeship. You could use that as an excuse, so she could begin work with that."
"Now, enough of this chat. I believe we came to 'discuss' more...pleasurable activities."
The next morning, Hermione was out of bed and down in the Entrance Hall early.
She pushed open the heavy doors and went out to sit on the steps.
Shadow, who was with her, ran into the bushes after having seen something interesting, growling as stones dug into his paws.
Hermione was deep in thought and so was startled when a silky voice came from behind her.
"I believe I asked you to meet me inside the Entrance Hall, Miss Granger."
"Sorry, Sir, I thought I would wait out here as I was early."
"It is not safe for you to be out alone, without telling anyone."
"Sorry, Sir." Hermione stood up. "What shall I be doing for my detention?"
"We will be collecting potion ingredients -"
Hermione's eyes lit up.
"- in the Forbidden Forest."
"We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed in there."
"Except in a detention. I believe you remember your first year."
"Yes, Sir." She shuddered. "He was there."
Snape didn't need to question who 'he' was. It was obvious she meant the Dark Lord.
They had made their way down to the edge of the Forest before Snape spoke again. "Stay with me, and if there is any danger, get behind me. Do not speak if we meet anyone. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir." Hermione stepped closer to him. "How far are we going in?"
"That does not concern you. Do as you have been asked and you will be safe."
"Sir, wait, Sh…" Hermione tried to warn him that Shadow was nowhere in sight, but he interrupted her.
"There is no reason to wait; the sun will be up soon." Snape moved swiftly to the Forest, not looking behind him to see if Hermione was following, trusting that she was – if not out of respect for his authority, then out of fear of his wrath.
Hermione hung her head and followed after him, almost having to run to keep up with his quick pace. She was glad she had kept fit, otherwise this would have been extremely difficult.
Suddenly, Snape stopped, and she ran into his back and fell to the Forest floor.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here, Severus? A Mudblood?"
"Lucius, what are you doing in here?" Snape narrowed his eyes, deeply regretting the fact that he had told Lucius that Hermione would be serving detention with him in the mornings.
"Why, I am talking to you, old friend." He glanced behind Snape to see Hermione picking herself up off the ground.
"Indeed." Snape scowled. "I am trying to collect some potion ingredients, so if you would be so kind as to step aside, they need to be collected before the sun is fully up."
"Ah, I will come with you. I need ingredients myself."
"You don't make potions, Lucius. Whatever could you need them for?"
"What do you think?" Snape nodded and continued on in his fast pace.
After a few minutes Lucius called after Snape. "Good lord, Severus. Slow down will you. Miss Granger is having to run to keep up with you."
"I believe she was fine before, and she is fine now. Perhaps it is you who is having problems keeping up." Shadow appeared up ahead jumping up a tree, causing Snape to curse silently and hope that Hermione's protector wasn't seen. In his distraction, Snape didn't turn round and so he didn't see Lucius put Hermione under a Silencing spell. Or notice when Lucius slowed his pace more, grabbing her and stepping behind a tree.
Snape only realised something was wrong when he heard a loud CRACK.
He froze, drawing his wand, thinking somebody had come to ambush them. "Miss Granger, come h..." He turned to see both her and Lucius gone. "Shit!" He felt dread and guilt wash over him as he realised the sound had been somebody Disapparating.
Lucius had called him out on a fault; if he had slowed, he would have noticed!
Snape ran all the way up to Dumbledore's office and threw himself through the door without knocking. "Sir!" He gasped.
He fell into a chair in front of his desk, and as his breath returned he realised Dumbledore was not there. "Damn it!" He jumped up and ran to the door leading to Dumbledore's private rooms.
He banged on the door loudly. "OPEN YOUR DOOR, OR MERLIN HIMSELF WILL VISIT YOU TO PUNISH YOU FOR LETTING A STUDENT COME TO MORE HARM THEN NECESSARY!"
The door opened and he was greeted by the sight of McGonagall with a sheet wrapped around her. "Now, what is the meaning of all this noise, Severus?" Snape had covered his eyes and backed away.
"Her... Miss Granger has been taken."
"What?" McGonagall who was still trying to push the sleep from her body, tried to get her brain to work.
"Miss Granger has been taken by Lucius."
"Wait here. I will get Albus and we will be out in a moment. Call an Order meeting. Use the Floo; it will be quicker." He nodded but didn't move until he heard the door close.
"I did not need to see that!" he muttered as he moved towards the fireplace, shaking his head as he tried desperately to get rid of the images the aging witch had conjured up.