A/N:

Sorry for the delay folks! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I took some of the reviews into considerations and created this nice little chapter here. Do enjoy and reviews are most certainly welcome again!

Disclaimer: I own nothing blardy blar blar!

Chapter 7: Snatched

Severus apparated back to Spinner's End with a one track mind, he needed to gather the necessities and quickly get back to Hermione. He quickly made his way into his home grabbing at anything and everything that he thought he may need. After only a couple of minutes he had gathered all of his items and shrunk them into his pocket.

Severus took a moment to reflect while he was alone. Hermione was one of the most fortunate opportunities that had ever crossed his path. He never imagined that with the choices he had made in his life that this could ever have been possible. He knows that in times like this clarity is always given with fresh understanding and meaning to decisions of the past. He also knows now that each choice from here will dictate the remainder of his life.

When the gravity of his thoughts had really sunken in he sought out his arm chair in the sitting room by his fire place. If the ball was as successful tonight as their previous date turned out he could truly see all of his dreams come true. He could fantasize for hours about his combined apothecary and Hermione's book store's becoming a very large success. Not to mention their small but intimate wedding ceremony.

Yet now, it seems, this is more of a reality than a fantasy. Could he be a good husband? What if she wanted children? He wasn't prepared for that question and quickly forgot he thought of the word, children! He let out a small chuckle at himself and decided his daydream would need to end on that rather unpleasant note. He knew however that whatever she wanted he would always give it to her; he would never be able to tell her no.

Severus quickly got up to head back towards the door, he ached to see his Hermione, when a streak of what seemed to be ginger colored hair flashed in the corner of his eye. He turned to see what it was but there was nothing there. He quickly withdrew his wand and felt a sudden sense of uneasiness consume his body. He moved slowly through the house.

"DEPRIMO!"

A quick flash of red came from the shadows and he was falling to the floor.

"INCARCEROUS!"

"Obscuro."

Another bright flash crossed before his eyes, body binds and darkness consumed him. For the first time in his life he was completely unprepared and mindlessly distracted; guilt consumed him.

He couldn't move he had been hit with a body bind curse. He heard a low mumble and a small shuffle but could not move to see who had ambushed him in his home. Voices were whispers all around. Three maybe four voices and he was damned if he could recognize a whisper!

His insides jumped when the whispers turned to angry shouting. He knew at least what they were saying. Quite unfortunate for him considering the fact that they were arguing over killing him now or later. The footsteps became louder and his thoughts went to Hermione. He needed to get word to her before they took him away he just hoped he was still capable of wand less magic. He attempted to send a patronus to no avail. The body bind was preventing his patronus from going to Hermione.

He could nearly understand what the last spell cast towards him was and he was fairly certain they were casting a bewitched sleep on him. He didn't want to panic but Hermione needed him! Needed to know he wasn't abandoning her! She needed to know he loved her! The last thing he thought of was Hermione waiting for an arrival that would never come and a solitary tear fell down his cheek.

MEANWHILE….

With the unmistakable sound of apparition Hermione found herself completely unhinged at being alone in her home. The uneasiness she felt in her stomach nearly made her nauseas. She had to get her mind back on the task at hand but she couldn't help but sit on the edge of her chair waiting to hear the sound of his return.

After just a few moments she heard a knock on the front door. A grin spread across her face nearly touching her ears after she barreled down the stairs. She couldn't understand why he wouldn't just come on in considering he had just left and knew he was welcome. Swiftly opening the door she was taken back a step when she seen Harry standing in front of her.

"Hello Hermione." Harry said with a sad smile. She looked lovely in her night gown. He however couldn't help but feel he was interrupting something.

"Harry? Why are you here?" Why was he here? He hadn't sent an owl.

"I'm doing well Hermione thanks for asking." He gave a playful smirk and walked into the door around her. Surely his presence wasn't this unexpected.

"Oh I'm sorry Harry. I was…I just wasn't expecting you to be here today. How are you? How is Ginny?" She hadn't heard from Ginny since she had received her howler. If she were being honest with herself she could truthfully say she wasn't too terribly upset at the fact she wasn't being forced to deal with Ginny's rants and excessive ramblings about her hair or makeup or god forbid sex with Harry. Most importantly thought she couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment from his avoiding her the last few months.

"Ginny is…well…I'm not sure how to say this…I….I called off the wedding…." He paused a moment waiting for Hermione's response but she simply stood there with her mouth agape.

"Ginny and I just aren't meant to marry Hermione. I feel her heart has grown to cold for my liking and her demanding personality is unbearable. She i D!" He couldn't help but give a small laugh.

"Harry! How could you call off the wedding with only two weeks left before the big day! Are you feeling well? I don't think I would be quite as worried about Ginny as I would be Molly!" She felt his forehead. He didn't feel hot. Sheer ignorance must have settled over Harry. She needed to sit down this was entirely too much information to take in at one time. What a freaking day she was having! First Severus drops a big Voldemort bomb on her this morning and now Harry canceling his wedding! She stepped back and sat down on the steps.

"Hermione I have lived nearly my entire life trying to keep up with everybody's expectations. Why it is the one thing that should be my choice has never really been my choice. I want to live the rest of my life my way with a lot less confrontation than I'm probably ever going to receive at home from Ginny. I'm sure you have heard by now about mine and Severus's meeting and discoveries. I have too much on my plate right now with that and I don't want to have to deal with Ginerva Weasley!" He was beginning to get frustrated especially since Severus had declined his help. Everything just went down hill after that it seems.

"But Harry you and Ginny just…I don't know…you're just meant to be. She waited for you for nearly 6 years! How could you just toss her aside for what is apparently no reason at all?"

If a man had done that to her she would see that revenge for the remainder of his life would be a daily occurrence….

"And yes, Severus and I have discussed your meeting but I'd rather focus on the important topic at the moment."

"I never ask her to wait for me Hermione. I don't love her…I…I love someone else." He found his shoes to be the most interesting object in the room. His face flushed red. Of all topics in the world why this one was the only one he had trouble discussing? He sat down beside Hermione and put his arm around her shoulders holding her tight to his side.

"You love someone else? Harry who could you possibly love more so than Ginny? I don't even remember you talking to another girl besides Cho and she is married now to Dean Thomas." This proves her point. Harry was shaken as a baby or ate paint chips when he was a kid. The man has absolutely lost his mind. She felt Harry's grip around her shoulder tighten.

Like a bolt of lightning Hermione felt the heat of embarrassment rise up her neck. Surely Harry would have told her years ago that he had feelings for someone else. Besides her and Ron the only other person he really spent time with were George and Fred. Oh dear, oh my, could Harry be….gay? She didn't give him time to answer her previous questions her brain was working at a rapid pace at this point.

"Harry are you gay?"

"What?!"

"Are you involved with George?"

"Hermione!"

"Kingsley? He's a bit older but I suppose that doesn't matter."

"WHAT ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT?"

"Harry there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. Be proud and don't hide it I will never look down on you because of your sexuality. You have to tell me who you love though it is driving me insane! I know…its that other Auror you have been working with…What was his name?" Hermione at this point was rambling out loud. All the pieces fit, all of Harry's actions over the years made sense now.

"Hermione please stop talking!"

"Oh I remember now, Jeffery! That's it isn't it! You have fallen in love with one of the other aurors in your office."

"Hermione please listen to me and stop talking! You have the…"

Before Harry could finish his sentence his partner Jeffery burst through Hermione's front door.

"Harry! We have to go to Egypt now! There has been a…kidnapping…and we must go…now!"

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin! Harry was also a bit startled but after a moment his senses came back and he could think straight again.

"How did you obtain this information?" Harry said in a very authoritative voice.

"Kingsley received an anonymous letter." Jeffery said in a grave tone.

Harry sighed. This conversation would have to be finished when he returned. He dropped his head and stood up from the steps.

"Hermione I'm sorry but I have to go to Egypt for a few weeks. Perhaps when I get back to London we can finish this discussion." He looked hopeful.

Hermione was in a whirlwind of emotions. First she finds out that Harry is gay and now curiosity was besting her trying to figure out who had been kidnapped.

"Harry who has been kidnapped?"

"Hermione you know that I cannot tell you that information. For one I don't know yet and two it will be classified information."

Harry was still standing on the steps, he turned and started to walk towards the door. He looked back at her before reaching for the door knob. He gave her a weak smile before he turned and walked out the door. Quickly the door shot back open with a smiling Harry peaking around the corner.

"Oh and Hermione one last thing." A triumphant arrogant smile spread across his face.

"Happy Birthday love."

Before she could thank him the door had closed and she was left sitting on her steps in a state of bewilderment. She managed to pull herself up from the steps and wonder haphazardly to her room to continue preparing for the evenings events. Daydreaming along the way about a certain dark haired wizard with ebony eyes and dazzling wits.

Hermione went upstairs and began her feminine ritual or preparations. She couldn't imagine why Severus was taking so long to return back to her house. She simply assumed that the overly private man had decided it best to ready himself at home. She continued to get ready and finished the final touches just a few minutes shy of seven thirty. Severus would be there any minute to escort her to the ball.

She had spent a majority of the evening getting ready and thinking about the beautiful ball. She was more than ready to see Severus. She walked down the stairs and began to pace in front of the door. At seven forty five she became extremely stressed. She marched to the kitchen and sent an owl to Severus asking where he was and when would he be to pick her up.

Her pace quickened and she was becoming quite furious. Humiliation quickly replaced her fury. What if he had asked her as a joke? Could he be with another witch making fun of her right now? She was going to go to Spinner's End to see or maybe go on to the ball ahead of him to see if he arrived with another witch. But then what if he seen her watching him and he had brought another witch?

At seven fifty eight Hermione was in tears. The last man to show any interest in her had stood her up. She knew that she was hideous, boring and even pathetic. To think she could get any man to like her for who she really was must be impossible. At one minute past eight. She hurried back to the kitchen. Her owl had retuned with the same note in its beak. She quickly opened the note to see the reply.

She couldn't believe her eyes. Nothing had been written on the note. The only thing that remained was some sand in the bottom of the envelope. She crumbled the paper up and threw it in the waste can. Storming out of the kitchen and upstairs to her room she burst open the door and fell face first onto the bed. This was not the evening she had planned. She was hoping for romance and had received, yet again, a night full of tears and disappointment!

A/N

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