"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hermione Granger knew that her life had been full of several defining moments - landmarks, really.

The moment in her first year when she had told Professor McGonagall that she was responsible for the incident with the Mountain Troll - solidifying her friendship with Harry and Ron.

Her decision to follow Harry to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic was an obvious one, as well. She remembered - quite vividly, in fact - her mind screaming that there was no logic in the decision. But whatever inner turmoil she had fought in that moment - she could not bring herself to let Harry go by himself.

The decision had very nearly cost her her life.

Of course, there was the moment at the end of her sixth year, when she had told Harry that she would follow him to the end - no matter the cost.

And then most recently, her decision to trust Draco Malfoy - which in turn had thrown her on a whirlwind of events - crumbling and shattering the thick walls that had surrounded her heart - daring it to beat...to hope again...while simultaneously catapulting her forward in the search for the remaining Horcruxes.

But now, in the underbelly of Hogwarts in the Chamber of Secrets, all of those defining moments seemed relatively insignificant. For Hermione Granger was staring into the crimson eyes of Lord Voldemort as she stabbed the Basilisk fang in the dead center of Ravenclaw's compass - vanquishing a part of his soul forever.

It was one of those moments where time - for however brief - seemed to stand completely still. As the fang penetrated the surface of the compass, Hermione knew that even time was at the mercy of this grandiose action - an action that could possibly effect the future and course of thousands of souls. A moment so powerful and life-altering in it's own right - that time, itself had to pause to observe the spectacle.

Hermione slowly looked up from the shattered compass and into Voldemort's forbiddingly distorted face and asked softly - with the faintest hint of victory in her voice, "Where is Nagini, Tom?"

And then, not surprisingly, the curses did come.

As a jet of red nearly collided with Hermione's chest - is he still trying to not kill me? - Hermione stretched her right hand forward and wordlessly deflected the spell.

And before Voldemort could fire off another curse, Hermione closed her eyes and thought of a happy memory - silently praying the spell would work without her wand.

"Expecto Patronum!" she shouted; and a silver otter burst from the palm of her hand - angrily gnashing its teeth at Voldemort.

"It's done!" Hermione said in a rush, as she spoke to the otter - dodging a particularly nasty curse, as she rolled toward the corpse of the Basilisk, "The compass is destroyed - tell the Order; it is time." And with the slight jerk of her wrist, the otter gave one last baleful look at Voldemort and soared back though the tunnel of the Chamber of Secrets.

Voldemort looked murderous.

And in one swift motion, he closed the distance between them - this time, his wand on Hermione's throat.

"That was a mistake, Mudblood," he hissed, as he pressed his wand painfully against her skin.

Hermione winced slightly, but refused to cower. "And what will you do now, Tom? Kill me?" She asked - her voice, unwavering, "There are worse fates then death."

A small, disturbing smile played over Voldemort's lips as he lowered his mouth to her ear, "I'll think one up for you," he whispered.

A powerful chill ran down the length of Hermione's spine as her eyes widened in fear.

Clearly satisfied that he had elicited terror within her, Voldemort pulled his face slowly backwards - and with a deft wave of his wand, binding cords shot out and wrapped firmly around Hermione's wrists. As Hermione struggled with the bindings, she abruptly cried out in agony for several prolonged seconds. Wincing slightly, she lifted her head to look up at Voldemort with disdain.

"If you wish to burn another layer of flesh off your wrists, then by all means - keep fighting," he hissed, menacingly.

Hermione glared up at him furiously as she struggled against the bonds once more - and once more she cried out as the flesh was ripped from her skin.

Voldemort sneered as he grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her along with him towards the exit of the atrium, "And they say that you're the smartest witch of your generation," he scoffed as he roughly pushed her through the tunnel, " - yet you continue to fight your bonds," he paused slightly as his crimson eyes once again raked over her terrified face, "Smartest witch, indeed," he concluded rasping - as though he clearly considered her anything but.

As Hermione struggled against Voldemort's grasp - carefully trying to avoid moving her wrists to prevent another layer of skin from being seared off her body, she spat his name with vehemence, "And what do you expect to do now, Tom? I think the professors might find it somewhat disconcerting when they see you dragging me from the bathroom and down the corridors of Hogwarts."

"Foolish girl," Voldemort hissed, "You think the Heir of Slytherin has no other way out of the Chamber? Your pitiful mind is more one dimensional than others give you credit for," he said as he tugged Hermione through the narrow tunnel that led out to where she had originally entered the Chamber.

And just down the main entryway to the right was a small statue in relief form that was so camouflaged against its stone surroundings that it was barely visible.

The relief was of a serpent - not too surprising there - that had a jeweled broach firmly gleaming on its chest. Still keeping one hand firmly grasping Hermione's upper arm, Voldemort ran his bony, ivory fingers over the rock surface as he hissed a command.

And with a great crack, the relief shuddered and split into two - forming a narrow passageway that led into complete darkness.

Upon seeing the blackened passageway, Hermione fought violently against Voldemort's grasp - forgetting the bonds that instantly began burning her wrists.

"What do you want with me? Where are you taking me?" Hermione demanded as she struggled against him, "Let me go, you monster!" she shouted as she gave a vain attempt to kick Voldemort in the shin. "Don't you get it? It's over for you! Your Horcruxes are destroyed! Your pathetic Death Eaters are no match for the Order of the Phoenix and if you think - "

Voldemort quieted Hermione not with a silencing charm - but with another rough slap across the face.

"Listen to me, girl," he whispered in a raspy voice as his face drew intimidatingly close, "You have no idea of what I am capable of doing to you. The stories you may have heard from Potter - the rumors, the tales...none of it comes remotely close to the infinite terrors your mind can imagine. Your deepest nightmares would be a comfort compared to the things I am capable of."

And without saying anything more, he turned on the spot, dragging Hermione with him through the darkness.

To say that Draco was worried would be as accurate a statement as saying Michelangelo was a painter.

The truth was that Draco was very nearly panic-stricken.

For the past several hours, he had done nothing besides pace back and forth in front of the fireplace like a caged lion. Occasionally, he had - of course, checked the grounds for any sign of Hermione - but when the only stirring he saw of the landscape was the wind rustling over the high grass, he eventually returned and resumed his pacing by the fireplace.

"Will you stop that?" Snape snapped, as he looked up with glaring ebony eyes from the sitting chair.

Draco paused mid-step and turned to look at his former professor. While the past several hours had been complete agony for Draco; Snape seemed to be regaining his strength by the minute. Not an hour prior, he had risen from the sofa, summoned a book, and was now reading quietly in the sitting chair - as though his misadventure with Voldemort and the Death Eaters early that day had never occurred.

"It's been too long," Draco said, flatly.

Snape looked up once again - but did not speak.

"It shouldn't have taken this long," Draco pressed as he began his pacing once more, "Something must have happened...it wouldn't take this long to get into the Chamber and out with a few Basilisk fangs...something is wrong..."

Something flashed over Snape's dark eyes before he spoke, "Draco - son, we must be patient. Hermione is an extremely resourceful witch. I am quite confident that she can handle most anything that chance throws her way."

"Of course she's resourceful!" Draco cried, as he threw his arms in the air, "That's why she should be back by now! Any minor problem that she could have encountered would have already been solved! Don't you get it? It's because there isn't a minor problem - there is a huge problem!"

And then he collapsed on the sofa, visibly defeated, "We need to do something," he whispered softly.

Snape regarded the young man before him momentarily and then spoke, "Draco, we could risk compromising Hermione's position if we interfered. And quite truthfully," He added as he chuckled softly, "I would hate to be on the receiving end of whomever felt the need to 'come to her rescue', as it were. I don't even need to image all of the adjectives she would come up for someone who felt she couldn't handle a simple task."

Draco's eyes slowly met Snape's, "Don't patronize me, Severus. Stop trying to make me feel better about a situation that I didn't feel good about it the first place. I know something is wrong. It is not a simple task - and you know it. If you think that I'm just going to - "

But before Draco could continue, Hermione's silver otter burst frantically into the room - creating a blinding light that lit the entire expanse of the main floor of the castle.

"It's done!" Hermione's distraught voice shouted from the otter, "The compass is destroyed - tell the Order; it is time."

And then the brilliant otter vaporized into a thin mist.

Draco was already on his feet and sprinting to the main entryway with a disgruntled Snape hot on his heels.

"Draco!" Snape shouted, "Draco, get back here this instant so we can think for a moment!"

But Draco continued forward at a rapid pace, "Why would she send her Patronus, Severus?" Draco shouted over his shoulder. "I'll tell you why - because she is unable to get here herself! Ergo - something is wrong!"

Before Draco could open the massive doors and escape into the cool afternoon air, Snape mumbled incoherently behind him, and Draco suddenly ran straight into an invisible barrier - knocking him roughly to the ground.

"What the hell?" Draco demanded, as he looked up from his prone position, "How did you do that without a wand?"

Snape bent over to help the younger man up as he pulled from his robe the wand of Lucius Malfoy.

"Where did you find that?" Draco asked, obviously annoyed while still trying to find some way around Snape's shield.

"In your rucksack when Hermione removed the compass earlier this morning. The sheaf was sticking out quiet visibly," Snape replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Draco eyed the wand momentarily before speaking softy, "You cannot ask me to stay here and do nothing, Severus, - not when she is most likely in very real danger."

"Draco," Snape began quietly, "I understand that you have feelings for the girl, but that is all the more reason for us to reserve caution."

"How can you say that!" Draco shouted as he pounded his fist against the invisible barrier, "You of all people! You - who loved Lily Potter! And if you think for one second that I am just going to let something happen to Hermione - especially after what she just did for us - for the Order - for the entire wizarding world - " he trailed off and then spoke in a deadly tone, "...think again."

"Draco, I have asked you to not speak of...her...in my presence," Snape said with a quiet power. And then, firmly clasping his hand on Draco's shoulder, he spoke compassionately, "I would never ask you to abandon Hermione - and I certainly don't intend to, either. But we must act on the information that she has just given us - we need to inform the Order to be ready."

"But there is still Nagini that needs to be killed before anyone can even touch the Dark Lord," Draco objected as Snape led him back to the drawing room with the fireplace. "Not to mention the fact that everyone in the entire Order believes us both to be traitors."

"Not everyone," Snape said quietly as he sat on the sofa and placed his head in his hands.

"What?" Draco asked in alarm, "What do you mean, 'not everyone'?"

Sighing deeply, Snape looked up at Draco and with a slight smile said, "Remus Lupin is aware of the vow I made with Dumbledore."

Draco's eyes widened dramatically, "How? You told me that it wouldn't be safe to return to the Order - that they wouldn't be able to protect either one of us."

"Which is completely true. Lupin knew of the Unbreakable Vow because he was our bonder. Obviously, he protested to Dumbledore's orders of me killing him nearly as much as I, myself did - but he understood in the long term of events - that it was the only way. No one else in the Order was made aware of my allegiance to their cause or to Dumbledore, as it very well had to be. If Potter had known and the Dark Lord had used the connection between their minds - my cover, potentially could have been blown years ago."

Draco looked as though he had just solved a particularly difficult Arithmacy problem. "But why didn't you tell me?"

"Was there a need?" Snape asked as he stood from the sofa, "You wouldn't have been able to take shelter with the Order, regardless."

Draco appeared slightly offended, but asked, "Have you been in contact with Lupin? Does he know about - well...I mean, does he know that I'm not a Death Eater?"

Snape shook his head, "I've only been in contact with him twice in the last five or six years. There hasn't been any information to share, and contact with one another - as I'm sure you can image, has been extremely difficult and dangerous on both parties. And yes," he added - almost as an afterthought, "He knows that you are not a Death Eater."

Draco nodded, "Well, send your Patronus now. The Dark Lord already knows of your betrayal to him. And we've already wasted enough time where Hermione is concerned."

Snape acquiesced by inclining his head and brandishing Lucius' wand, "Expecto Patronum!" he said with conviction as the silver doe sputtered from Lucius' wand.

"Lupin," Snape spoke solemnly to the doe, "The time has come. The Dark Lord has discovered my true allegiances. Hermione has gone to Hogwarts and destroyed Rowena Ravenclaw's compass - I fear, however, that she may have run into trouble along the way. Rally the Order. Contact me as soon as you can."

And with a deft flick of Lucius' wand, the graceful doe sauntered around Snape's still body before galloping out of the castle.

"What are we going to do about Nagini?" Draco asked, after several moments of silence.

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes before he spoke, "Nagini's last residence was at the Riddle Manor - though I am quite certain by now that the Dark Lord will have removed her and is keeping her close at bay."

Draco had resumed his pacing by the fire, "And we'll still need a basilisk fang to get rid of her," he paused - his thoughts returning to Hermione.

"Severus - please, we have to go to Hogwarts. If anything has happened to Hermione..."

Draco's eyes were pleading - beyond desperate.

Snape gave an incredulous sigh, "Draco, I do believe that you are in love with Hermione Granger."

Draco immediately stopped his pacing and faced Snape with his head bent to the floor.

"Yes," he said quietly - unable to meet Snape's eyes, "I think I am."

Snape said nothing for several moments until Draco felt the elder man's hands grasping both of his shoulders, "We must wait until we hear from Lupin and the Order. I promise you that I will do all in my power to keep Hermione safe."

And then Draco did look up to meet Snape's eyes.

"Thank you."

Remus Lupin was looking shabbier and more mangled than ever.

Ever since his near death experience a few months earlier, he couldn't recall when he had last had a full night's sleep. The monthly transformations had taken an even greater toll on him - and between teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, leading the Order of the Phoenix, and being on nerves about an impending war that was looming ominously closer each day; Remus felt completely drained.

And I'm not getting any younger, either, he thought ruefully to himself as he stood by the fallen Death Eaters on the grounds of Hogwarts.

Minerva McGonagall had sent for him not an hour earlier and told him what had transpired on the grounds. Apparently, Hermione Granger had appeared out of nowhere and was heading to the gates of Hogwarts when the Death Eaters that had been recently residing in the Forbidden Forest seemed to suddenly awaken. Now, as he stood in the pouring rain next to the fallen Death Eaters, he considered the strange placement of events that had occurred over the last few months.

Hermione, as far as Remus knew, had been working in secret to find the last unknown Horcrux. When he had inquired to Harry about the circumstances, he had seemed just as confused and hurt as everyone else in the Order did regarding the matter. Obviously, Hermione had come to Remus' recuse and saved his life from a particularly nasty dark curse he had received in battle - but aside from the vague warnings that Hermione's Patronus had occasionally given to Harry, no one really knew what had happened to the girl.

Woman, Remus reminded himself, as he thought of how Hermione had grown and matured over the years since she had graduated.

But Hermione was a strange mystery.

Harry had informed him that she was capable of wandless magic on a scale that rivaled Dumbledore and Merlin, himself. Remus had never doubted Hermione's ambition or potential - but he would be lying if he admitted that he hadn't been shocked that she could master such an arduous ability. There was also the fact that she knew the exact counter curse to the dark spell that had hit him.

Had she been dabbling in the Dark Arts?

Of course not, Remus dismissed as he pulled his cloak tighter around his thin body - trying to shed the rain as it continued to pound mercilessly upon him.

Hermione has always been astonishingly brilliant and gifted - obviously she came by the curse in some obscure reading or research she was indulging in...right?

But the more Remus pondered on the matter, the more disturbed he became. It did not seem in character for Hermione to abandon the Order - and Harry, specifically. Hermione very rarely left Harry's side - and since Ron had been murdered, the two had become nearly inseparable. The fact that she had suddenly taken up root to search for the remaining Horcrux by herself was somewhat disconcerting.

That's not like her to go off on her own. Harry - yes, but Hermione...

Hermione was the rational one. Despite her young age, seasoned members of the Order of the Phoenix ofter turned to her for advise and consideration in certain matters - himself, included. Certainly, the Order shielded her probably more than she appreciated - but with her history of stumbling head first into harm's way, Remus felt the shelter was necessary.

And here, in the biting wind and rain, Remus felt a shudder run down the length of his spine - he was worried.

Hermione had found the compass - of that much she had informed Harry. The reason she was here at Hogwarts, Remus reasoned, had to be to obtain the Basilisk fangs. The Ministry would be too complex a feat to attempt - as he well knew. And with Voldemort's ever gaining power and influence, many of the officials within its walls were already likely to be corrupt on some level.

But how could she get into the Chamber of Secrets?

As Remus was pondering over how Hermione could have entered the Chamber, a silver doe burst into life from the direction of the nearest thicket of trees and began to speak urgently in Snape's deep voice.

Shocked by the sudden appearance of the doe that he had not seen in well over two years, Remus took a startled step backwards.

Once the doe had delivered the message, Remus stared blankly into the distance.

Snape's position has been compromised?

Hermione has been working for Snape this entire time?

And even more dreadful, she hasn't returned yet?

As a million different thoughts soared through Remus' head, namely - how Snape had been outed, - while still managing to escape Voldemort's presence, how Hermione had made contact with Snape - what had made her agree to such an arrangement? - and most importantly - that Hermione had yet to return to wherever it was that Snape was residing - leading to the terrifying conclusion that if she was still in the Chamber...there was a good chance that someone was down there with her.

Oh, Hermione - please be okay.

Turning on the spot, Remus ran swiftly through the pounding rain as he made for the castle. But a slight movement out of the corner of his eye caused him to stop dead in his tracks.

Up ahead, coming from the northwest corner of the castle were two figures.

The taller of the two - a man - was wearing a black cloak that was billowing furiously in the storm, but covering the entire expanse of his body. As Remus closed in on the figures, his heart began to pound rapidly in his chest. The other figure was a slender woman - fighting against the grip of the man - who was dragging her in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. And with a sudden shock wave of horror that quite literally nearly knocked Remus to the ground, Remus recognized the woman as Hermione Granger.

"Hermione!" Remus shouted as he sprinted forward with his wand drawn.

The sound of her name be called over the deafening rain caused Hermione to look away from her captor and to the direction of the voice.

When she realized the man running towards her was Remus Lupin - her heart nearly froze in her chest.

"Remus! No! Get away! It's not who you think - it's -"

But before Hermione could finish warning Remus, Voldemort turned on the spot, threw his hood back and brandished his wand.

Remus nearly tripped over his own feet at the loss of momentum. He stopped - completely shocked and dumbfounded as he stared into the crimson eyes of Lord Voldemort.

"Take one more step," Voldemort hissed over the pounding rain, "...and her next breath will most certainly be her last."

Struggling in Voldemort's grasp, Hermione cried out in pain at the bonds that burned her flesh with even the slightest of movements, "Get out of here Remus!" she screamed, "He won't kill me - just go!"

And with one final effort, Hermione extricated a small object from her robes and shoved herself violently into Voldemort's side as she surreptitiously dropped it to the ground. Enraged by the physical attack - Hermione's subtle gesture went unnoticed. Eyes burning, Voldemort grabbed Hermione by the collar of her cloak as he pulled her next to him. With his free hand, he pointed his wand at Remus.

"Avada - "

"NO!" Hermione screamed as she bumped into Voldemort's arm, causing him to stop mid-curse. "Remus! Get the hell out of here!!"

Enraged at the interruption, Voldemort grabbed Hermione by the crown of her head - his bony fingers ripping at her thick hair, "You will pay for that, Mudblood," he hissed menacingly into her ear.

Hermione expected that whatever retaliation or retribution Voldemort threatened her with would occur within the next moment. So she was genuinely startled when he grabbed her arms and once more - pushed her into the forbidden forest.

Why hasn't he killed me?

Why won't he just stun me?

It would be infinitely easier on his part.

Unless - of course...he's planning something.

And she could hear Remus stumbling in the trees - a few meters behind them.

Is he trying to get himself killed? Hermione thought angrily.

With a great shove against Voldemort - who despite his emaciated looking figure, was surprisingly strong, Hermione turned around just in time to catch Remus' eye as he came around an overgrown spruce tree.

Knowing that she couldn't say it aloud, Hermione tried desperately with all of the fervor of her being to convey with the emotions of her face what her voice could not say. Her eyes locked onto his gentle blue ones - always so patient and kind - but now looking frantic and desperate, as she silently pleaded with him to turn back. Whatever emotion had been displayed on her face or in her own eyes in that brief moment must have been enough, because with an anguished expression, he met her eyes for one more second - and then turned and ran back the way he had come.

Hermione's insides unclenched in relief, as Voldemort grabbed her once again, and moved her roughly along the forest floor. Closing her eyes as Voldemort silently tugged her along, Hermione felt - quite surprisingly - at peace. Whatever happened to her now was irrelevant. Of course she was scared - hell, she was terrified beyond anything she could recall. But she had done her job. The wizarding world had a chance now - a chance to finally fight back. And with that thought on her mind, a single tear slid down her cheek as she continued into the impending darkness.

As Remus neared the edge of the Forest where Voldemort had tried to cast the killing curse at him, his eyes strung fiercely from the burning tears that were freely flowing down his scruffy cheeks. As soon as he emerged at the edge, he immediately dropped to his hands and knees and began frantically searching the forest floor. Just before Voldemort had tried to kill him, he saw Hermione drop an object into the undergrowth. He hadn't seen what it was - but he was certain that she had left it for him, and that whatever it was - it was important.

It was that action alone that had been the only reason he had been able to let the darkest wizard in perhaps all of history, cart Hermione off into the unknown abyss of the Forbidden Forest.

And in that moment, Remus' fingers brushed a solid object that didn't seem to quite fit with the forest topography. With a pounding heart and shaking hands, Remus slowly wrapped his fingers around the object as he brought it up to his face for closer observation.

It was a Basilisk fang.

I hope that this wasn't quite as horrible of a cliff hanger. Anyways, this chapter was a little difficult for me - with all the different perspectives and points of view. I hope that I pulled it off with some semblance of coherency. Please review - it might motivate me to update more quickly:)