The woman had the look of a doe in a rifle sight. She thought to run, but was desperate to know something, and hoped Hermione would answer her question. She looked at the floor as she came to sit by Hermione. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you would answer a question."

Hermione smiled to try to make the woman feel more like talking. "Of course. What do you need to know?"

The shy woman lifted her head to smile. "Did you mean what you said? About helping us if you could?"

The curiosity was overwhelming Hermione. "Yes. What's your name?"

"Charlotte. Charlotte Biddlecombe, Sixth year Hufflepuff."

"Well Charlotte, what can I do for you?"

"Forgive me. I don't mean to be impertinent." Charlotte was turning bright red. "I see you and Headmaster Snape are… very close. I saw you at the gathering when Voldemort tortured him. He was your master, wasn't he."

Hermione had no intention of gratifying someone's salacious curiosities. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm sorry. I mean no disrespect. I just feel that, because of that, you would understand." Charlotte was distressed and fidgeting.

Hermione was perplexed and tried to coax out what was troubling her. She realized she didn't mind shouting of her love for Severus Snape from the rooftops, let alone tell a single woman in the great hall. "Yes, he was my master, but our relationship grew into so much more. We love each other very much. Does that answer your question?"

The woman was practically jubilant and glowed as she spoke. "Thank you, I thought so. Miss Granger, I… I fell in love with my master as well. I'm sick with worry over what's happened to him. Please. Is there any way you can help us? Phillip didn't hurt me or Dana. He was kind and gentle and sweet. He had only just graduated last year and was recruited by Voldemort's men after a raid. They made it sound very exciting and glamorous, to a young man alone in the world. He only discovered he'd made a mistake after he took the dark mark and they made him do things. Things that sickened him, but he had to go along, or they would have killed him. Please believe me Miss Granger. He's not a bad man. Please don't make him go to Azkaban. I'll never see him again. Please help me."

The woman broke down in tears. Hermione looked at the girl with pity and hugged her. Severus saw the disturbance and after having heard most of the conversation came to sit beside Hermione. Kingsley, never one to be left out came with him.

The girl was near inconsolable. "Her story is not an unusual one. Death Eater ranks were increased more by coercion than devotion. Once in, they were often corrupted beyond repair and gave themselves to the violence. Look at me Charlotte."

Charlotte raised her head and looked into Severus' eyes with her own tearful ones. "Legilimens." He gently pushed into the woman's mind, trying to find out the truth of her statement. He saw many instances of the two of them together. It was clear they cared for each other. He pulled out and apologized for the intrusion. "It's true. The boy is no killer. He wouldn't have lasted long as a Death Eater. Those who don't give absolute devotion after a time, are used as little more than target practice for the amusement of the others. They must have been trying to convince him to turn by giving him his women. Kingsley, are all the Death Eaters still petrified in the dungeons?"

Kingsley knew what Severus was going to do. It wouldn't work. Between the mark on his arm and the others throwing him under the bus to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he would be in Azkaban for life. If Severus wanted to release him now, he would only be hunted down later. Better to go through trial and take his chances. "I don't recommend what you intend Snape, but odds are he's still below with the others. We're still trying to make room for all of them in Azkaban."

Charlotte whimpered and began to cry again, and Hermione held her close to try to sooth her, giving Kingsley a dirty look. "Come now. Let's see what we can do. We'll go down to the dungeons and then take him to a guest room. We'll work it out after that." Charlotte was so happy she hugged Hermione senseless.

The corridors to the dungeon were cold and quiet. Lucius and the others were standing watch. Severus greeted them with a nod. "Lucius. Is everything in hand down here?"

Lucius smiled, glad to be in front of the door instead of behind it. "Quiet as sleeping kittens. Have arrangements been made in Azkaban yet? I would like to be on my way."

Kingsley smirked. "I'll bet you would. If it were up to me Malfoy, you'd be going with them."

Lucius looked down his nose at the auror. A difficult feat considering Kingsley Shacklebolt was two inches taller. "It's a good thing that it's not up to you, now isn't it? I was guaranteed amnesty if I and my friends helped in their capture and keep. Are you intending to go back on your word Severus?"

Severus rolled his eyes at the two men. "Of course not Lucius. We are here for an entirely different reason. I need you and the others to turn your backs for a moment."

Lucius then noticed the teary-eyed girl behind Hermione. "Of course. Anything for our new savior… and her… friend?"

Severus gave Lucius a dangerous look. "You and your cohorts don't see anything or anyone, is that clear?"

Lucius grinned and motioned to the men. "Crystal."

The group pushed their way into the cell and Charlotte broke away to search for Phillip. She was very thorough and found him quickly. "Phillip?" He was pale and stunned as they all were. She pulled him into her lap as tears fell on his frozen face. "We're going now Phillip. They are going to help us." Charlotte looked up to focus on Hermione. "Please."

Hermione knelt down next to her to examine the young man. He wasn't much older than herself. Short dark hair that fell over his eyes, average height and build with just a trace of a moustache and van dyke beard. His swarthy skin brought out the long dark lashes that gave him a very bad boy look. Put him in a puffy shirt and eye patch and he would make a great pirate. Charlotte touched her arm, anxious to get out of the dungeons.

She smiled and nodded. "Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to pick him up for transport to a room upstairs?"

Severus and Kingsley looked at each other and crossed their arms on their chests. "Pick him up? What are we, muggles?" With a wave of his wand Kingsley levitated the boy and they all filed out.

Hermione was at Severus' elbow. "Do you remember him?"

Severus scowled. "Yes. Phillip Burnworth, Ravenclaw. He lived up to his name. Not terrible at potions but had compliance issues. While your essays were miles longer than needed, His were always less than requested. He insisted that the important information was there and that should be all that was required. It was true he managed to complete the spirit of the essay, but when I say two full parchments, I meant two full parchments. I don't remember him in the Death Eater ranks. He must have been a very new recruit."

It was odd that Hermione couldn't place either of them. "What about her? She's obviously only two years under me, but I can't place them."

"Hermione, I remember many students. Usually, the ones who gave me trouble, but the one who did a passable job often faded into the background. I kind of had my hands full, what with you three, Voldemort, Dumbledore and the war."

She only grunted an acknowledgement as they moved on.