Taken

A.N: Ok, one swear word in this chapter! Just a warning!

It was a menacing gesture, that one twitch of the mouth and raise of manicured eyebrow. It was only that, a gesture, but it spoke volumes; it was created out of fierce accomplishment and spiteful determination, a whisper of what was to come, a touch from the devils finger, a beat of his breath.

It didn't bring fear to the child on the floor, he was beyond that, it brought despair, for he was so close, he was safe only moments ago, he was happy, he made plans for himself and his future shone bright through a lens of Snape and his mother getting together, all three of them living in the mansion and living a life of vivacity.

But now that one rise of the eyebrow shattered that lens, shattering his mind with it, he truly couldn't fight anymore, he thought he was gaining strength, growing in confidence, ready to rebel, like his mother had said. But how could that ever happen? He was alone now, but maybe…

His mind screamed out to three words Mother! Mir Mir! SNAPE!

His ears were ringing too hard to hear the words come out of his mouth, but he knew he was screaming them, so loud he was hysterical. It was a weird experience, feeling the words like they were being said by someone else, yet feeling your throat go sore by the effort.

The blonde man didn't seem at all worried by the screaming, Severus was unconscious on the floor, and if his wife did decide be a hero, he would easily take care of her.

But the sound was giving him quite a headache. He reached towards the broken boy with the pitiful, heart wrenching sobbing screams, not that it affected him in any way; Lucius was the kind of man that seemed to have his emotion button on the off position.

Draco stopped the second his father got nearer, there was no point, he knew it, he might as well curl up and die where he lay, in fact he would welcome it. His breathing quickened and he was trembling. It was like a dream, his vision was blurred with despair. But what happened was not what he expected.

Lucius got very, very close, an unreadable expression on his face. It was like watching a cat get right up close to a mouse, and never pounce. Painful.

His face was only a few centimetres away now, he mouth up against the boys ear; who had gone rigid, paralyzed. The words spoken were soft, too soft. It was that kind of frightening modulation that made the receiver wish he were being screamed at.

"Enough of these games, son, I'm tired of it. I think it's about time you grew up and stopped living in a fairy tale. I've been pushed to far, but I'm a patient man, and I'm willing to give you a second chance. Forget the past few days, come with me, son, become your full potential, start your future!"

Draco responded with a blank stare, and a sort of strangled gulp.

Lucius's expression hardened. For seconds, no one moved. Then, like a shock wave, Lucius's arm shot out like quick silver grabbing the startled teen in an iron grip, hauling him up to his trembling feet. It made Draco's body jolt with sharp surprise.

Then, just as quickly, he yanked Draco towards him until they were nose to nose and spat in his face, "Time to go" he looked the boy up and down and then suddenly, throwing Draco completely of guard, he kissed him right on the forehead, hard. It ended quickly and before Draco had a chance to collect his chaotic thoughts he found himself being tugged down the corridor.

He knew he should resist, try to pull away, refuse to go wherever his father was taking him, his instincts were screaming at him, don't go with him! But his body didn't seem to be working.

Lucius knew what he had to do, to confirm Draco's future as it so dangerously threatened to slip from his controlling grasp. He had to take him to be marked.

Severus Snape stirred, groaning. His eye burst open.

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Narcissa could swear she heard something, like shouting. She shook it off, probably nothing; her nerves were right on the edge after all. Then a sudden chill shot up her body like ice. It was Draco. That horribly familiar sense of panic claimed her and tensed every muscle in her body.

She shot out of her room, nearly tripping over in her wild frenzy. She had been doing her hair and make-up, trying to look nice. The thought now made her sick, how incredibly stupid and vain could she be! Draco was in trouble now!

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Draco found himself being dragged through the manor; the portraits followed their movements with eyes of painted steal.

One man, sitting proudly and peacefully looked suddenly startled and appalled by the site before him. He stood at his full height in the frame and yelled at the top of his posh, deep, voice. "What are you doing? You stop that, you let the boy go Lucius! Let him go!" Lucius swaggered round to face the man and spat on the painting, the man inside drew back and exploded. "How dare you!" Lucius smirked, "What are you going to do? Hmn? Jump out and stop me?" he chuckled darkly. The man off the portrait held a look of high offence then bellowed. "What has become of the Malfoy name!? When did we become a family of sin and prejudice!? To turn against our own flesh and blood! To become slaves to evil!" He received no answer. He gave a final plea of sanity. "Fight back boy! Do all you can!"

Something clicked inside Draco. Someone's calling to me, someone wants me to survive. He wasn't quite ready to lie down and play dead yet.

He dug in his heels, using all his strength, pulling against his capture. The grip hardened, making his arm go cold through lack of circulation. Sudden claustrophobia claimed him; he didn't like the feeling of being trapped. He pulled harder and harder until the two stopped completely, both pulling against each other, Draco practically on the floor.

Lucius snorted with disgust, he used all his strength and wrenched the boy forward grabbing the fine blonde hair on his head, pulling his head back and holding his arm against his back, he had full control.

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Narcissa rushed to the place she had heard the scream, ready to face anything that got in her way. There was something about hearing your child, your flesh, your blood scream in terror, shouting out your name, that gave a mother strength beyond her normal physical potency.

In her hurry she nearly tripped over something on the floor. Looking hurriedly down she saw none other then Severus Snape, holding his head. His face was bruised and blood was trickling from his mouth. She dropped down to him.

"Severus, oh Merlin, what happened? Where's Draco?"

"Lucius, we, we got in a fight" She helped him to his feet, her eyes widening in horror from the news she was hearing.

"I must have passed out"

She nodded, her blood temperature rising.

"Severus, where's Draco?"

He looked at her, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "He's not with you?"

She coughed out a strangled sob. Her eyes shining with tears not yet spilled.

They both knew the math.

"Lucius!"

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They faced the grand fireplace. It took up nearly the whole wall, carvings encircled the grate. It was made of stone and antique pine. It was a grand site when ablaze, and it brought heat to the entire room. But now it was cold and empty, the dead ashes reflecting Draco's mind.

Lucius reached for the floo powder that sat on the mantle piece in a small delicate box. He dragged them both inside the fireplace. In a clear voice Lucius spoke the words "The warehouse!" Then before he took the next step he brought his lips close to Draco's ear once and again and said "But first we need to make sure no pesky insects follow us through" A sense of foreboding washed over Draco. What was going to happen to him? He was quite sure he was in the hands of a madman. Lucius threw down the powder in a burst of dancing activity, just as they became a rush of green colours he yelled out "Block!"

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Miriam relished the warmth of the humble fire. Her quarters were small but comfortable. With a small fireplace crackling merrily next to a modest sized bed with thread bare quilt and owl feather filled pillow. This is where she now sat, reading 'Jane Eyre'. A muggle book she had picked up through her life. She enjoyed the quite and peace, something she had little of. Now that Snape was here, maybe things would be different? Maybe not.

And this man I bent over- this common-place-, quite stranger- how had he become involved in the web of horror? And why had the Fury flown at him?...

She found her mind travelling from the written words, one line catching her imagination. How had he become involved in the web of horror? She sighed. How had she become involved in this web of horror?

She starred into the tiny dancing flames, closed her eyes.

Then a heart wrenching scream sent a sudden shock chill to shoot up her spine and settle in her bones. It froze her, her muscles stiff and her eyes dilated beyond their usual enlarged state.

It was Draco, oh Merlin it was Draco!

She couldn't believe it! How could he be in trouble! How could Severus let him get into the hands of Lucius?

She was in a state of despair. It was too much. She was too tired, she couldn't do this anymore! Her exhaustion over whelmed her love for Draco, it was just too much. She curled up in a ball, the fire not so warm and welcoming anymore. Her hands clasped her ears and her eyes were tightly closed. She hummed a tune, too block it out. She could pretend, she could delude herself, she could make out everything was all right. It was a cool day; she was looking at a blue sky, Draco was laughing….

Her eyes flew open. She had fallen asleep. Her mind had taken her away. But now she was back, back in reality. Her eyes sparkled with tears. She then remembered with a gasp. Draco!

She leaped off the bed and made a dash for the door. Running full pelt down the corridor. She kept running and running. She wiped her eyes, it was just a second, but enough. She felt a horrible impact, knocking the breath from her chest. Falling flat on her back she looked up to see what had caused the blow. She was face to face with Severus Snape, well, knee to face.

"Forgive me" he uttered then, his face flushed pink, hurried on his way.

Miriam was bewildered, "W-what happened, where are you going?"

Narcissa answered her plea, breathing hard, her usual immaculate blonde hair hanging wildly around her flushed face. "Its Draco, Lucius has taken him somewhere! Oh, Merlin knows what he's doing to him" sobs wracked her body.

Miriam was a very clear, quick thinker when she needed to be. "Come now Miss, we will find him"

Her clear, confident voice seemed to lighten Narcissa's heart.

"Come on" They hurried to catch up with Snape.

When they found him, he was standing stock still by the giant fireplace, examining the tiny box of floo powder.

The two females exchanged looks then walked cautiously toward the man, still breathing hard.

"Severus?"

He responded without looking at either of them "They've used the floo system, damn it!"

He yelled out the last words slamming the box down on the mantle piece.

The sound echoed round the room, leaving the three occupants in despairing silence.

Miriam winced, and Narcissa just held her head in her hands.

If it were a cartoon, a little bulb would have appeared above Severus's head. But this wasn't a cartoon, and plus the wizard world have no knowledge of light bulbs.

So instead Severus wore an expression of great enlightenment.

He could have shouted "Eureka!" but instead he settled for. "I have an idea"

The two females snapped their attention on Snape, watching his every move.

He stood inside the fireplace, telling them his plan as he worked.

"I can detect the last use of the floo system for this fireplace, then I can ask the fire to take me to the exact same place"

Narcissa's face glowed. Miriam literally jumped up and down.

The head of Slytherin took out his wand and muttered the words "Show me your trail"

Turquoise light gently encircled Snape and the grate in a sparkling dusty light. "Now, if this works, the light should turn-"

"Red?" Miriam said hesitantly. For that is what the light had become, strong red.

The potions master looked very defeated. "No, no no no! It's supposed to turn yellow! Why?... wait"

He kicked the grate "Lucius that bastard!"

Narcissa's eyes darted across Snapes profile.

"What? What now?"

"Lucius has blocked the floo system for this grate!"

They all groaned. But Miriam suddenly noticed something, her eyes brightened and she shouted, "Look!"

Severus spun around. The grate was sparkling yellow. "Yes!"

He jumped back in. "It may be blocked, but it can still tell me where its last destination was"

He closed his eyes then his face slowly dropped, becoming a mask of horror.

"What? Where is he?"

His voice was weak and almost unbelieving "The warehouse"

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Yay! This chapter is a little longer then my others. )

Everyone knows where Lucius has taken Draco. Lol: )

Anyway, thank you to all my lovely lovely reviewers! Your words mean so much to me. hugs you!