Harry was sitting inside the Keeper office looking at Oswald with a concentration that couldn't be ignored. Unable to believe that a few hours earlier Hermione was at Ward 49 having an argument with him about coming to this specific place. She wanted to ask Oswald for help. Harry could have gone out that door with her. He could have followed. Guilt gnawed its way into his brain, making him squirm. He remembered her fierce eyes when she declared that since no one was trying to actively help Severus, then she was going to do it.

He could have gone with her. Another wave of remorse threatened to undo him.

That was the last moment they saw her. After that she disappeared. It was as if she fell off the face of this earth. Ginny went to the Professor's house after leaving the hospital in order to talk with Hermione. She wasn't there. He was notified and instantly made an attempt to trace her magic.

It was not there….

After that he raised hell. The Ministry was notified and Harry recruited several of his men in order to hit the streets.

She was still nowhere to be found.

The news even reached the Wizengamot and a few members related their concern albeit reluctantly. That didn't help much….and apparently Harry's concentrated efforts on finding her trace didn't help much either. When Ron found out, Harry had to force him to stay away. He was too emotionally involved in this….

As if you aren't…

And his relationship with the Professor was not good. He'd do more harm than good. Ginny kept her brother and family away with great effort as Harry gathered his most able men and went to the fifth floor. The Keeper offices. Defeating his ego and knowing that he had to face Grey with a few rather remarkable explanations as to why he allowed Severus to go free….he opened the doors and found.

Only Oswald.

The offices were empty. The Keeper welcomed them almost relieved. He offered them a cup of tea, which Harry denied and then he sat down to listen to the Chief's request.

"Oswald please. We need your help. We cannot trace her. You people have a different way of working around magic. Maybe you will be able to see that which we cannot." Harry's eyes were beseeching.

The man looked towards the locked door of his boss.

"What are you so worried about? Grey? She isn't even here. How can she elicit such unbridled fear from such a strong man as you? You worked under Voldemort for the sake of Merlin." Harry frowned.

"She wanted to work under him too remember? She was one of the more obscure, but loyal friends of Bellatrix. That must be enough to elicit fear even from the wisest person." Oswald paled.

"She didn't partake in the war. I cannot view her as such a big threat. Not bigger than then Dark Lord. I am sorry." Harry shook his head dismissively.

"She is strong…she is ruthless…she has darkness in her heart." Oswald rebuked.

"As do all who work with dark magic. Besides she isn't stronger than your former boss." Harry smirked.

"Don't compare them." Oswald returned annoyed.

Harry's silence pushed the other man to explain.

"The Professor has a soul….she doesn't."

Harry pursed his lips. "Very well. All the more important it is then for us to unite and defy her orders…or lack thereof. Challenge her obvious indifference to this nightmare."

Oswald stood up and begun pacing nervously.

"Oswald stop hiding in here. Help us find Hermione. Go Under and help the Professor. Try to stop this cloud. We have so many options. Choose one. You are a powerful wizard, you know the Dark Arts almost as well as she does. You can help us all!" This was the first time in this painfully long discussion that Harry's eyes glimmered with anger.

Oswald looked towards the bay windows and the endlessly moving blackness upon the sky. Kept back by Severus' powerful shields. "Are you sure the Professor is Under?"

Harry's eyes hardened. "I was the one who let him out. He needs our help…as does Hermione who might be in mortal danger at this very moment."

"I don't know about going Under against Grey's orders, but maybe I can help you with Miss Granger."

Harry shifted apprehensively and threw a cautious gaze at his Aurors. "Please do so before I go mad."

"When was the last time you saw her?"

At those word's Harry's countenance broke. "When she left the hospital with the intent of coming here this morning. She wished to speak to you. To convince you to take action against Grey."

Oswald shook his head. "What your friend did was dangerous from the start. She threatened Grey. That is a death wish. She talked back to her and that is a recipe for disaster."

"Gryffindors are not known for the patience. Grey run ours thin with her audacity." Harry returned heavily.

"Maybe that is what got her in trouble." Oswald's voice cracked at the insinuation.

"Are you implying that Grey had something to do with Hermione's disappearance?" Harry's brows met heatedly.

"I don't imply anything….I merely suggest. Your friend should have stayed home." Oswald tilted his head.

"And play good housewife? You don't know Hermione." Harry scoffed.

"So were did all that bravado land her Chief? In the void….." Oswald rejoined.

Harry paused. "I didn't come here to discuss Hermione's choices. I came here to ask for your help."

Oswald avoided Harry's insistent gaze.

"In the past the Keepers and the Aurors kept dutifully out of each other's way. We took care of this world and you took care of the Underworld. Now we cannot afford to do that anymore. We need to join forces…don't you see?" Harry grasped his arm.

When Oswald turned to him, his gaze was a peculiar mixture of fear and frustration.

"I can see the fear in your eyes. It is disturbing to see a Keeper petrified. The world is coming apart around us Oswald. If it wasn't for Snape this poisonous residue would have covered every inch of the city. My Aurors are torn apart between my orders and Grey's. The Minister is powerless and the Wizengamot is either suppressed into silence or even worse actively trying to undo us all with its mindless decisions." Harry tried to school his voice to sound calmer.

Oswald emptied himself on a seat and looked up in defeat.

"Where is your new boss through all this? What is she doing to help us with the dark magic that runs rampart out there? She is not even in her office. You are the only Keeper in this damn place." Beads of sweat appeared on Harry's forehead.

Oswald wiped his upper lip nervously.

Harry grabbed his arm and pulled it down. "Where is Grey? Shouldn't she be trying to bring back order in this chaos? That is part of her job right?"

Oswald nodded curtly.

"She isn't doing anything to help us, but we can help each other. United we stand, divided we fall. We must join forces. You know how to protect us in the Underworld and I can offer you the strength in numbers." Harry leaned over and their eyes locked.

"You believe the Professor saw the cloud in the Sixth Level?" Oswald muttered.

"I do." Harry replied sternly.

Another longer pause came from the Keeper.

"Join us…help us. We can do this if we are together." Harry frowned.

Oswald was frozen, trapped in an internal battle, looking at the horizon beyond the windowpanes. It was Conroy's voice that broke the spell.

"The Chief Auror is right."

Harry's expression shifted with happiness. "Conroy!"

The man tilted his head. He was standing proud even though he was doing with the help of a cane. "A pleasure to see you Chief, despite the ominous circumstances that bring us together."

Harry walked over to him quickly and clasped his hand. "A pleasure to hear the voice of reason inside this insanity."

"I see you managed to gather a few good men." Conroy nodded towards Harry's Aurors.

"I have more ready to follow me, but we didn't want to draw attention. These men volunteered to go Under with me even without the protection of the Keepers." Harry's eyes filled with pride.

"We won't let you go Under without protection. We will come with you." -Conroy rejoined and turned sternly to Oswald- "Correct?"

Oswald stood up slowly. "Yes."

Harry's eyes darted from one man to the other. "Can I rely on your assistance then?"

Conroy nodded. "Without a doubt." -Then without missing a beat he continued- "It was shocking for us to hear about Miss Granger's disappearance. My family was very distressed with these horrifying news."

Harry's features shadowed. "It is impossible to trace her."

"It is difficult to lose a trace. Only a handful of reason could explain this." Conroy stopped and waited for Harry.

"Either the Professor is still hiding her trace or…." Harry's gaze was intense.

"Or she went Under..." Conroy added gravely.

Harry paled.

Conroy grasped his shoulder. "The Professor stopped hiding her trace after they signed the private agreement in front of the Wizengamot. Therefore despite how much this alternative might scare you, we must surmise that someone took her in the Underworld."

"Will you be able to trace her if I take you to St. Mungo's?" Harry said quickly.

"There is some Lucid Trail left at the Professor's stock." Oswald rejoined eagerly.

"I don't have Severus' ability to trace someone, but I am not totally useless. There is no point mulling over suppositions. Let us go there. Oswald bring the potion." Conroy commanded.

Harry gazed at Oswald as he entered Grey's office, then he turned to Conroy. "I know you are still recuperating. Are you certain you can do this?"

Conroy frowned. "Miss Granger saved my life by using a very illegal form of magic and endangering the pureness of her soul for me. I will do everything I can in order to help her."

Harry welled. "Thank you."

Then Conroy grabbed his arm and pulled him closer. "Be careful out there…trust no one."

Harry's eyes fell to Grey's office silently.

Conroy's lifted his brow. "No one…do you understand?"

Harry nodded just in time before Oswald came out with the Potion. "Here it is. I think it is enough for one dose, but I must insist to take it in your stead. You are not well enough yet."

Conroy scowled. "No. You will allow the potion to weaken me even more as I search for Hermione's trace. Then you shall use your strength to help the Chief and his men down there."

Oswald dithered for a few seconds before handing over the potion.

Harry's eyes met Conroy's and the determination he recognized in there made his heart quicken.

-.-

"Well well well…if it isn't the Wizard of Oz." The fairly buff Auror scoffed.

Severus' eyes slid carefully from one man to the other. His wrists turned, stretching with tension as he held both wands steady. He held himself in check with great difficulty.

"Didn't expect you to appear so soon after your prison break." The Auror circled slowly around him.

"Eon." Snape acknowledged austerely.

"In the flesh. Did you expect someone else?" The riposte was frisky.

"Ten Aurors? Just for me? Isn't that a bit…" –Severus sneered- "…superfluous."

A smirk formed under Eon's thick moustache. "On the contrary I fear we might be undermanned. You got two wands, we were wagering on one."

"Are you here under Potter's orders?" Snape said coldly.

"Potter? Ha…he is infatuated with you. No, we are here under Grey's orders."

"Is she commanding Aurors as well now? Impressive, even though I expected to see her in person. Instead she sent out the thugs to do her dirty business." Severus' drawled.

Eon raised his brows. "Careful master. You may have two wands but you stand against ten."

Severus' smirk held behind it a throw of menace that Eon noticed.

He buttoned up and pointed at the empty street. "What brought you back to us so soon? Weren't you supposed to be hiding in the Underworld?"

"I missed the double standards of this world." Came the deliberate retort.

"Is that what you missed….or your future wife who seems to have vanished into thin air?" Eon tilted his head excitedly, waiting to see if his words would have some effect on the taller wizard's unwavering composure.

Severus remained admirably unmoved, but a thick vein swelled at the side of his throat.

Eon noticed. "Oh, I feel like we touched a delicate string in you master. Your silence speaks volumes."

Severus's eyes narrowed on him.

"Is this were her trace led you? Have you taken the Lucid Trail? Was it impossible to trace her when you were Under? Do tell…."Eon poked.

Severus' jawline flexed.

"She had a rather lengthy discussion with me in the hospital before leaving. We questioned her about your prison break."

"She knows nothing." Severus' voice dropped several octaves.

A glimmer of triumph toyed in the Auror's eyes. "Of course she doesn't…or so she said."

Another long silence from came from Snape, paired with a resolute regard that offered an air of defiance upon his person.

"So why didn't you return to your abode to search for your betrothed? Why did you come here in the middle of nowhere?" Eon continued.

Severus' nose flared and his black eyes glowed with suppressed fury. "Why is Grey so dead set in arresting me instead of entering the Underworld in order to find the missing woman? Is my arrest more important than the life of an innocent citizen?"

Eon lifted his wand. "Apparently you are more important than you think."

"So much so that you used the final traces of a missing person in order to ambush me. Grey's Keepers could have told you that Granger's last footprint was here. Instead of using that information to help her….you use it to arrest me." Severus snarled.

"Our job is to bring you back chained, not save Granger. That task had been given to other Aurors."

"Has it been given indeed?" -Severus' brow lifted slowly- "I wonder. Did you attempt to discover my abode before resulting in tracing me through this contemptible manner?" Severus' brow lifted slowly.

Eon's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, I see. You failed to find it. That shouldn't surprise me. The latest Auror additions to the force were barely tolerable if I remember correctly. You were one of them, correct?" Severus said derisively.

Eon's fingers squeezed the wand. "Enough! Lower your damn wands!" He barked.

"Grey didn't choose her men well…You are such an easy kill that I wonder if it's worth my effort." Severus derided.

Eon tensed and so did all his men, when suddenly a solemn voice reverberated around the buildings.

"Now gentlemen calm down. I think we can solve this bloodlessly."

Severus' lips curled up in a subtle smile.

Harry walked out of the shadows with his wand drawn. His Aurors circled Eon's group quietly. "Isn't that right?" He added with a smile.

"Chief." Eon blinked in confusion.

"You weren't expecting me?" Harry asked evenly.

The Auror lowered his wand slightly. "What are you doing out of the hospital?"

"Saving our reputation in front of the Professor." Harry smiled.

Eon glared at Severus.

"Can we drop the charades Potter?" -Severus chastised and when one of the Aurors made to move closer to him, his wand snapped menacingly- "I'd suggest you stay still unless you wish to have your comrades pick up your pieces from a fifty mile radius."

"I would suggest you all lower your wands and take a step back. You heard the Professor." Harry rumbled.

"On whose orders?" Eon glowered.

"Mine of course." Harry rejoined casually.

"I take my orders from Commander Grey." -Eon flared his shoulders- "She told us to follow the Professor's trace and bring him back to the Ministry the moment he appeared. He is charged with assault, attempted murder and…."

Harry raised his hand austerely. "And also he is responsible for every calamity that has befell on us during the last few months or so. I am well aware."

Severus shifted his legs impatiently and scowled at all of them. His patience was running thin.

"Are you jesting?" Eon spat.

"Address me properly." Harry frowned.

Eon tried to gain some affirmation from his comrades, but saw they were overpowered. He stiffened and turned to Harry once more. "Are you jesting Sir?"

"I didn't get out of my comfortable hospital bed in order to come out here in the cold to crack a joke with you Eon. Withdraw your wands and get out of here before either the Professor or I do something we will regret." Harry said sternly.

Eon visibly stumbled. "But Commander Grey…."

"Is a Keeper, not an Auror. Let her send her men to arrest the Professor. If I am not mistaken you are an Auror, therefore you are to follow my orders." Harry's raised brows punched the words home.

Eon didn't move.

"Tell your men to withdraw and no blood will be spilled. Return to the Ministry and file an official report before you go home." Harry continued calmly.

"I will report exactly what I saw here, including your interference." Eon replied coldly.

"You will report that you found nothing and you saw no one. All of you will. If I find out that you spoke of the current misunderstanding I will make sure heads will fall. You trust in Grey too much even though you do not belong in her men. If you wish to remain an Auror…if all of you wish to keep your jobs you will do as I say . Is that clear?" Harry's eyes spewed flames.

No one moved, but Eon spoke rather audaciously. "Why would they believe you instead of us?"

"Because of who I am."

Eon's face grew pale.

"Now pull yourself together, tuck that wand in your sleeve, and leave. That is an order." Harry spat indignantly.

The seconds ticked and no one moved. Eyes darted everywhere, weighing chances. However the quiet resolution of Harry's face, the two intimidating wands in the hands of Snape and the stiffness with which Harry's men were looking at their comrades, made Eon take a step back in clear conquest.

"Grey will hear of this." He warned.

"Grey will hear much more than this." Harry tilted his head.

Eon offered him a hateful glance that promised a continuation of this confrontation and then signaled his men. They dispersed quietly into the darkness.

Severus lowered his wands. "Good timing Potter."

"To save you?" Harry's smile was nervous.

"To save them." Severus pressed his lips. That is when he saw Conroy and Oswald appearing from the shadows.

"Boss?" Conroy limped towards him.

"What are you doing here?" He frowned.

"Came to help and no…I won't listen to you. I won't go back home. You need all of us." Conroy's eyes were penetrating.

Severus inhaled deeply and took a step back as some tension released from his body on those words. "Thank Merlin you were smart enough to remain hidden."

"We cannot trust Grey anymore. We couldn't allow her to know that we are helping you." Conroy smiled.

Severus's mouth formed a ghostly smile and he gripped Conroy's shoulder tightly. Then he turned to Oswald. "How about you?"

"I am with you." -He said and drew the potion from his coat- "Now that you are here it is only logical that you should take it."

Severus snatched it from his hands like a thirsty man. He wrapped his long fingers around it. "Thank whoever God blessed you to find this. I thought I didn't have anymore."

"There was one final bottle in your office." Oswald smiled.

"You broke in?" Severus looked up keenly.

Oswald shrugged with a soft smile. "A very significant woman is missing…as I am told. We need to find her."

Severus felt his whole body bracing with tension once more. His stomach clenched so hard that he winced. He turned to Harry. "Potter thank you for a second time."

"And thank you for the hundredth time. You came back in order to find her, didn't you?" Harry's gaze was misty.

Severus offered a quiet nod, not trusting himself to speak. His heart was racing…it had been racing ever since he felt her Rune screaming when he was Under. After that the whole world narrowed down to her. Nothing else mattered.

"You allowed your trace to become visible." Harry's brow creased in confusion.

"I became reckless." He didn't care to admit weakness in front of this disaster. The moment he understood that Hermione was in danger, the same moment all his safeguards melted to the ground. Emotionally and physically.

"Do you see her trace here?" Harry looked around at the empty darkness.

"Yes. There is a portal right here. I can barely see it." Severus reached out to touch the misty outline that was totally invisible to the others.

Harry swallowed heavily. "They took her Under like Conroy said…." His voice cracked under the load.

"The cloud comes from the Sixth level but I didn't have the time to reconnoiter accurately what is happening down there. The only thing that matters to me right now is to…." Severus faltered. The usually icy figure of absolute control had given his place to a man that had one foot dangling above the abyss and it was obvious to all.

Harry reached out and gripped his hand. Severus flinched from the touch, but Harry held him tightly. "I am here for the same reason. All this…" –He looked towards the cloud- "…means nothing to me now. I need to find Hermione."

Severus' dark eyes became pools of unspoken emotions as they bore into Harry's. Then he uncorked the potion and drank it in one go. The liquid glided through his throat leaving a searing path after it. Then it burrowed into his veins and the pain it awoke was excruciating…as always. Severus seized Harry's hand tightly in order to steady himself. This unexpected support made him feel more vulnerable than he'd ever admit. The most honorable part of himself wanted to reveal Hermione's pregnancy, but the practical soldier that had served under fire for ages prevailed.

He gritted his teeth and his veins bulged under his skin, pulsating with the poisonous potency of this potion. When he opened his eyes everything was so bright he had to blink and step away for a moment. All those colorful threads from the men around him were overshadowed by the dark bluish hue of the portal in front of him. Most of all though they were crushed by the black ferocious threads that were escaping from him. Her beautiful orange threads were there. Trembling around his feet weakly. The rest were being violently sucked inside the blackness of the portal. A burst of adrenaline rushed through his veins. He activated the portal and took the first step when Harry stopped him.

"We are going in with you!" Harry gestured to his men.

Severus clasped his bicep. "My Runes won't be able to protect all of you in there for long. Not in the Sixth Level."

"We are here too boss." Conroy said proudly and drew his wand.

Oswald followed suit. "We will help them."

Severus recognized the broken threads of Conroy's life force. It was so different from Potter's blinding light that looked so powerful. Conroy was weak…he wouldn't last long. He wanted to open his mouth and command him away, but he couldn't. He needed all the help available to tackle this. He was going to use without remorse even a man who was barely standing in order to find her.

He averted his eyes from Conroy and entered the portal.

-.-

"She is with child…" The voice said and Hermione heard a distant groan. It took her a few moments to realize it was deriving from her.

Who is with child? Her mind felt befuddled. The world around her seemed heavy, it was difficult to breathe and her shoulder was burning. She tried to lift her hand to touch it but failed. Am I handbound?

"That will make our hold on him much stronger. Are you sure?" Another voice spoke, this time male and vaguely familiar.

"I saw her aura. I am sure." The female voice replied.

Hermione made an attempt to open her eyes, but failed. A throbbing pain was coming from the back of her head. She seemed to be laying down, her face sliding upon what felt like cold mud. She tried to open her mouth. An indistinguishable murmur came out.

"Do you think she knows?" The man asked.

"No…she is still in the early stages." The woman replied coldly.

That viperish tone reminded Hermione of someone….Who?

"She is damaged goods. I was expecting to gain more out of this. Two birds with one shot." The man sounded upset.

"She won't do for your experiments, but she will do perfectly for our original purpose." The woman reasoned.

"It is disheartening to go through all this trouble without carrying out trial on such a beautiful specimen, but I shall do without. For the greater good." The man said solemnly.

"For the greater good." The woman replied.

"She looks rather unscathed from the malevolence of this level…rather impressive for such a novice." The man rejoined after a few seconds.

"She's branded by his schematics. He's marked her with the Eleventh Key. Are you not able to see?" The woman scoffed.

"Now I understand why our shields rebounded off of her the moment we entered." The man's voice was calculating.

"She shares his rune. This world cannot touch her as long as it is active. It is the reason she didn't abort the moment we came here. Our magic won't be able to touch her either. She needs to die in a very muggle way when the time comes. A fitting tribute to her filthy blood." The woman said coldly.

"Well…isn't that interesting. Apparently she means more to him than we originally thought. All the more power to us." The man sounded pleased.

Abortion…with child? Am I pregnant?

That realization made Hermione's eyes fly open. Everything was blurry, but she saw shadows surrounding her. Long cloaks, hoods, a dark forest which lurked with indefinable figures at the edge of her sight and an opening in front of her. An enormous crater in the middle of the forest. "Help…" Bile gathered in her throat when she moved her head. Concussion… She gagged hard, but nothing came up.

"She is waking up. Stun her." The woman commanded.

"No…please." Hermione sputtered. She tried to push herself up, but with her hands tied back it was impossible.

"I said stun her." The woman repeated forcefully.

"Please…no…please…" Hermione murmured and felt her eyes closing down again. The Rune on her shoulder was burning hot. Protecting her like he had promised. He was there with her in spirit, wasn't he? Her eyes burned and a surge of emotions choked her. Pregnant….? Another wave of confused feelings and images came to undo her. A sob escaped her. "Help me…" She sobbed.

"There is no need to stun her. She isn't going anywhere." The man said.

"You are pushing our luck." The woman sounded cross.

"Hush your mouth for a moment mistress." He said and walked to Hermione. He knelt next to her and grabbed her by the hair.

"No…please…" She murmured and blinked towards the terrifying vision that was making her eyes burn. The cloud…it was there….emerging from a deep chasm that was surrounded by a black forest….raising up to the sky…rotating boringly…silently. The ash was falling around them …covering the tree lines, the ground, their bodies, their hair. It was creating a repugnant muddy goop under her quivering body.

Even though the shock of witnessing the birthing of this cloud was making her unravel ...there was something that was holding her threads together in a confused yarn of pain. Something far more powerful and overwhelming than anything she had felt in years.

Am I pregnant? Severus?

No answer came…no soothingly deep voice to tell her that he knew…no reassuringly imposing presence to offer her safety. She was alone in here….with all those mind bending terrors surrounding her. She braced herself and murmured the archaic words with her mind, hoping that she could somehow reach him.

Drain me if you must…protect yourself…His solemn voice boomed in her mind making her eyes surge with tears. It was a figment of her imagination, she knew…however she adhered on it with all her might. His voice was the only thing that could keep her afloat at that moment. The sweltering on her shoulder spread towards her neck, making her gag. The man's fingers pulled her hair painfully.

"My dear, I haven't seen you since your Wizengamot hearing." The voice drawled.

Hermione inhaled sharply and peered above her shoulder, feeling the back of her head throbbing. Malfoy's long blonde hair was pooling on her back. His vicious smile was making her writhe. "Arghhh…" She yelled and made an attempt to free herself.

His hand pushed her head back down and her cheek slid on the black mud. It entered her mouth, staining her teeth and grating her tongue. She spat…needing to get rid of it. "Malfoy…" She groaned.

"When I saw you standing bravely in front of the Wizengamot you were full of vitality, an advocate of freedom, the one who represented the oppressed. A banner of strength. Look at you now, all tattered and helpless. Rather pregnant by your former Professor and begging for your life. What a waste." Lucius taunted.

"I am not pregnant….no…" Her heart missed several beats.

"I suppose it's too soon for you to know. Thank Mordred Maxine was there to see it for you." Lucius scoffed.

Hermione moaned hard and raised her head with great difficulty. Maxine Grey was there. Dressed in a long black cloak with her arms crossed calmly in front of her chest, her icy features betrayed only contempt. Hermione coughed hard. Her stomach clenched several times, but nothing came out. The tears cascaded down her cheeks plenty. "Please let me go…." Her whisper was beseeching.

Maxine smirked maliciously.

Am I pregnant…? That thought combined with Maxine's hateful smile suddenly activated a protective thread that was dormant inside Hermione. With a heated burst of energy she thrashed in an ultimate effort to release herself from her manacles. She tried to push her magic through without a wand, but with a failing heart she saw a few weakened sparks escaping her body.

"Oh Mordred…are you seriously trying to use your magic? Do you take us for fools?" Maxine frowned- "You have no real strength down here."

"Settle down princess before you hurt yourself. We want you in one piece until the time comes." Lucius pressed his knee on her back, immobilizing her.

She gasped for air and tried to avoid swallowing the disgusting goop. "Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you?"

"Besides threaten to expose me to Judge Sopheous?" Maxine walked over to her.

Hermione held her breath. She feared this woman. She feared her a lot…especially now that there was a possibility that she was hosting another life inside of her. Her mind went numb with fear when she felt a stone poking her lower stomach. An unexpectedly caring thread spread inside her like a star. She tried to gather her legs under her body to protect her stomach. "I was wrong…I didn't know…I was naïve…" She tried.

Maxine sat on her shins in front of her. She pinched Hermione's chin and lifted her head up. "Your threats mean nothing to me. I didn't bring you here in order to get my revenge. You have an important role to fulfill. A role which you took when you accepted Snape's application at the Wizengamot."

"What role? What did I do? Why would target me?" Hermione choked.

Max nudged Hermione's chin. "You were never a target you little bitch."

"Maybe you shouldn't be telling her so much." Lucius sounded cautious.

"You think she is getting out of here alive?" Maxine barked.

Hot tears rushed down Hermione's face and she trembled. "Please have mercy on my baby…" She stuttered.

"I will have mercy on neither of you when the time comes. You are our prime bait…I will take care of you until you lure in the big fish. Then I will have no more need for you and that bastard in your loins." Maxine's smile was full of loathing.

Hermione blinked dumbly. Then her body quivered so hard that her teeth rattled. The words kept playing in her mind like a broken record.

-Am I pregnant? Am I pregnant? If I die, the baby will die with me…I cannot let them kill me. I have to find a way out of here….Severus please….

That is when Maxine released her head and Hermione groaned in pain. She forced her head to lift slightly and her eyes opened. The gigantic crater was in front of her, surrounded by vertical black cliffs. At its depths the land was cracked and dry, devoid of plant or animal life. It was a barren wasteland lurking with indistinguishable shadows. In its center was an artifact that looked ancient and threadbare. The upsurge of black mist that came from it reached the sky, creating an endless dark cloud of pitiless magic.

Hermione's eyes blurred by the outpouring of fresh tears. "The cloud, the violent attacks, the Marriage Law, the injustice against the Muggles, the abductions, the deaths…all of it…it was you."

"We were honored to continue the work of the Dark Lord. Protect our world from filth. You have stained the purity of our blood long enough. This degradation has to stop! The mingling of the precious blood of our purest people with your mud-blood must seize! What you have in your stomach is an abomination! It represents the beast we have been working so hard against!" Suddenly Maxine erupted with a wrath that made Hermione flinch.

"You are telling her too much!" Lucius yelled.

"Fuck off!" Maxine thundered.

Hermione heard her sharp inhalations and choked exhalations way too loudly as Maxine and Lucius glowered at each other.

"Back off Lucius…." Max warned.

He tilted his head. "We are on the same side."

Their eyes remained locked for what felt like an eon when suddenly another voice drew their attention.

"Mistress we have an infiltration!"

Lucius pulled back. "So soon?" he looked at Maxine.

Grey's jawline flexed and for a brief second the cold veil of self-control drew back to reveal a naked fury that terrified Hermione. That was the last thing she remembered before the world turned black once more.

-.-