I think you know you lost the love of your life

"This is the third evening in a row you two have sat here playing chess. Will one of you just hurry up and win already?"

Hermione Granger was irritated beyond belief. Irritated with Harry. Irritated with Severus. Irritated with the never-ending heat. The two wizards were once again locked in battle in front of the fireplace of the Great Hall. "Gods forbid should they miss a night." She had heard about chess games going on for days on end, but had never actually seen it. She was bored. She had gone to bed alone the last three nights due what the castle referred now to as "The Game." She had awoken in the morning to find the bed empty as well. Severus awoke early to plan his strategy in The Game. Had she not had dim memories of waking briefly to find a warm body wrapped around hers, she would have sworn she slept the nights alone. Harry had no time to spend with her either. He too was obsessing about The Game. Everyone else spent the days talking about The Game and the evenings observing The Game. She was bloody sick of The Game and it was all she could do not to raise her wand and incinerate the board and pieces.

She was through with The Game.

Hermione stormed into the Great Hall, "I have had it with this Gods Damned Game. If this is not over TONIGHT, then I am moving back to Gryffindor. Oh and don't look so smug Harry. I mean to have the whole tower. You can move to the friggin dungeons so you two can continue The Game there. I'm going for a walk!" SLAM went to door.

Harry looked at Severus and smirked. Harry Potter actually smirked at Severus Snape. "You want to throw in the towel, old man?? Sleeping in the dungeons is not as big of a change for me as sleeping alone will be for you."

"Shut up and play, Potter."

But Harry was right. He didn't want to spend his nights alone. Hermione was too important to him. Although he was sure she would calm down in a day or two, he didn't even want to be parted from her for even one night. He studied the board carefully and made his move.

There was a sharp intake of breath from those around him. Harry's mouth dropped. Slowly Harry reached out to the White Queen, and moved.

"Checkmate?"

"So it is Harry. Very good game. Now if you will all excuse me, I have a pressing matter that needs my attention. Goodnight all." The Potions Master was out the door in a swirl of black.

Harry sat back in his seat and smiled. "Well, if I had any misgivings about Hermione and Snape, they sure are gone now. I can't believe he just threw the game for her."

Dumbledore stood up and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I can, Harry. I most certainly can."

Harry began cleaning up the pieces, carefully placing each one back in its box after thanking it for a game well played. The small audience was moving around and saying their goodnights.

Suddenly there was a crash. Harry was on his knees grasping his forehead; the chess box forgotten at his feet. "Voldemort."

Dumbledore was upon Harry in a flash, helping him to his feet. "Can you tell how far away he is??"

Harry closed his eyes, trying to steel himself to the burning pain. "Not sure exactly, but I can tell he is active and his attention is focused at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore sat down and appeared to be deep in thought. He suddenly looked to Remus Lupin. "Get outside and find Severus and Hermione. They are not safe even on the grounds right now. Hurry."

Before Lupin could reach the door, Severus Snape came flying through it. "He was breathing heavily and he face was several shades whiter than normal. "There is a Dark Mark in the sky over Hogsmeade. I can't find Hermione."

I was the best you ever had

Below Hogsmeade, a broom flew high and fierce. Sirius Black had a very important gift for his Dark Lord. He held a limp form on the broom in front of him. Setting down near an oak tree, he threw the bundle over his shoulder and was gone.

Almost instantaneously he reappeared, dropped his cargo, and fell to his knees in front of Voldemort. "Master, I have brought the mudblood. I snatched her right from under that old fool Headmaster's nose. She never knew what hit her."

Demon red eyes gazed at the figures on the floor. Voldemort motioned for Sirius Black to rise. "Well done Sirius. You have once again proven yourself and have earned a spot back in my good graces." He pointed his wand at the unconscious girl. "Enervate."

Hermione immediately opened her eyes and made to get to her feet. She felt a boot in the center of her back, forcing her to the ground. "You will bow before the Master." She looked sideways into the face of Sirius Black.

"Bastard, I bow to no one." Her hand flew to her sleeve and found her wand ….missing.

Sirius dangled it by its end, swinging it back and forth. "Did you lose something, you lousy mudblood whore?" He kicked her hard in the side, forcing her to roll to her back. "What's wrong Hermione?? You don't look so good. Too many late nights in the dungeons? Don't look so shocked. It's a pity that incompetent buffoon you call a Headmaster never made sure the passageway from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts was kept sealed. You never know who could find their way in at night."

Another kick had her back on her stomach. She struggled to stay conscious. Several more blows exploded, in her head, in her ribs, across her back. She could feel a trickle from her nose and could taste blood in her mouth.

Voldemort spoke now. "As much as I do enjoy the sight of filthy blood being spilt, I must insist that you stop, Black. She is of much more use to us alive, than dead. Ah, I see our host has joined us. Draco, get Miss Granger to her feet."

She was aware of being drug to her feet, and of ice blue eyes meeting her own. "Granger we meet again."

Draco released her and moved out of her view. She tried to lift her head to meet Voldemorts eyes, but the view swam and she dropped to her knees, wretching violently. She was unable to open her eyes at this point, never the less rise again to her feet.

"Draco, get her up again and stop this bleeding. She must remain alive until I have time to complete stripping her Source."

She realized that she was being carried gently. She felt herself being lowered onto a hard surface. Then soft words were spoken as a warmth moved through her body. She looked up into the blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. They flashed briefly with a warning.

"Are you finished with her yet, Malfoy?" Voldemort hissed.

"In a moment My Lord. Just a few more charms." He bent over her once again, closely examining the injuries to her head. She felt the gash on her forehead heal and she was helped into a sitting position. Gentle fingers probed the blood-matted hair on the back of her head. The blond man moved in for a closer look at the wound. She heard him speak almost directly into her ear. "Obey him, play along, and we all may survive this." She felt healing warmth on the back of her head.

She was able to look around the room. She was in a large dining room. Draco had laid her on the banquet table in the middle of the room. She quickly took note of the painting over the fireplace and realized it was Lucius Malfoy.

"Are you quite through with the trollop, Draco?"

She was drug to her feet. "Yes Master. She will live, for now."

"Very good. It's time to start the ritual."

She stood proudly on her own feet as the skeletal figure of Tom Riddle approached her. He looked her up and down, appraising her. He lifted his upper lip in disgust and sneered "Which one of you two wants to strip her?"

Draco immediately stepped forward. "Please Master, let me."

"Quite eager are we, Draco. Well for the short time she lives after her powers are stripped, you may have her. Although, I am surprised you have a taste for Mudbloods."

Before she had a chance to react, she felt her pants disappear.

At Hogwarts mayhem had broken out. Wands were drawn, theories formed, voices, shouts, general confusion. Only Dumbledore sat quietly with his eyes closed, mouth moving. After several minutes he opened his eyes. "SILENCE" came the commanding roar of Albus Dumbledore.

"Sit down, all of you. Get a grip on your emotions.," he instructed.

Minerva McGonnegal, Remus Lupin, and Poppy Pomfrey instantly obeyed. Severus Snape and Harry Potter did not. They completely ignored Albus when he gave the order the second time. So caught up in forming a rescue plan, they didn't even hear him the third time. But, when Albus Dumbledore drew his wand, they could not help but feel the power that surged through the room. They turned, eyes wide and mouths shut, to face the Headmaster.

"I believe that I do not have to point out the fact that emotional outbursts such as this will not only accomplish nothing; but, will most likely end up getting us all killed. I believe that I said to SIT DOWN." Immediately Harry and Severus dropped into chairs.

"Now then, I raised the invasion wards on the castle proper as well as summoned the remainder of the staff from their rooms. They should be arriving momentarily. I also have shut the floo network in the castle down to avoid invasion by that method. Remus, get up to the owlery and owl the ministry and let them know what has happened."

Various members of the summer staff began arriving and were quietly cued in by the others to what had occurred.

Albus turned to Harry and Severus. "Obviously, your first and foremost concern is Hermione's safety. I want to remind you that we do not actually know that Voldemort has taken her. She may be somewhere in the castle or on the grounds. A thorough search must be undertaken immediately."

Severus Snape's eyes flashed as a spark ignited. Mumbling something about "why didn't I think of this right away," he went running from the Great Hall.

Albus began to assign duties to those still seated such as preparing for casualties, keeping lookout from the 4 towers, and further strengthening and expanding the wards.

Severus Snape rushed back into the Great Hall carrying his Pensieve. "I can watch Hermione through here. Maybe we can figure out where she's at."

He sat the Pensieve on the table and called her name into it. "Hermione Granger."

Because I'm in Demand

Hermione came into view.

Draco Malfoy stepped in front of her and reached up to obviously knead her breasts roughly. Once again, the warning was in his eyes. Then with a wrench of his hands, he tore her shirt from her. Her bra followed behind. He trailed one finger over her right nipple as he stepped away again and came in behind her.

Over her shoulder, Severus could make out the painting of Lucius Malfoy. "She's in Malfoy Manor."

Voldemort loomed over her. The red eyes were drawn to the pendant which dangled between her breasts. "What have we here? A time turner?" One bony hand reached for the minature pensieve and tore it from her neck.

Severus Snape had only a second to react. "He's coming here, NOW!"

In a flash of light, Voldemort stood in the Great Hall, surrounded by a dozen witches and wizards. He turned to find himself face to face with Albus Dumbledore.