19.

Into your heart I'll beat again.

            The fire died down as Severus stepped out of the hearth, Hermione engulfed in his arms. Albus stood at his desk his head hung gravely. Severus placed her in the chair as he fought back the sobs that choked him. Her words of anger and hurt fleeting across his mind.

            " She…she" He stopped looking at Albus. He sank into his chair as the old man nodded, waving his hands so Hermione could speak.

            " Let-me-go." He words were low and angry.

            " I'm afraid Miss. Granger that we cannot. You are in much danger if you leave."

            She grounded her teeth, and squared her shoulders as Albus watched her intently.

            " I understand your resentment for being brought here, and as it is you only have two choices. One, you remain here under supervision or Two, I inform the Ministry that you are here and you are released into their custody. In short, you will be sent to Azkaban."

            Severus bristled at this. " She cannot go their Albus."

            " Bugger off, what the blood hell do you care." She spat at him.

            "Miss. Granger, please understand that Severus' intent is in your best interest."

            " Yes, thank your headmaster I read the note." Sarcasm dripping from her words as she spoke piercing him with a fiery glare.

            " Miss. Granger, your choice, if you'll please."

            Severus stood. " She will not go to Azkaban. She will remain here, if I have to lock her in her rooms I will, but she will not go." His voice was steel as he spoke.

            " Severus, sit down. This is for Miss. Granger to decide."

            " No-." He was cut off by the sound of Hermione.

            " Send me to the Ministry." She spoke defiantly.

            Albus stood wearily. " I was afraid you'd say that. Severus, please take Miss. Granger to her rooms, I will inform the Ministry." He spoke softly as he showed Severus passageways that lead to the dungeons.

            " Albus…" He choked… the old man couldn't possibly be serious.

            "Severus, take her to her rooms." He spoke in slow rhythm. Severus sneered as he walked to Hermione carefully pulling her up.

            " Come." He said softly waving his wand so her legs were free to walk.

            She tilted her head up as she walked along side of him.

            " Hermione, please tell him you'll stay. You can't want to go to the Ministry." His words echoed in her mind.

            She bit her lip hard, urging herself not to cry. She gulped down the metallic taste of her blood as it trickled down her lip.

            Severus stopped in front of her, brushing his thumb over her mouth.

            " I've never needed anything, in fact I prided myself on not needing." He shook his head.

            " I need you, Hermione. Please I know it's so selfish and I hardly deserve your trust but, please stay."

            Her stomach lurched at the thought of not returning to Voldemort.

            "It hurts, Severus. It hurts to know what you did. That you couldn't trust me enough to be honest, I don't believe you anymore."

            He closed his eyes, willing them to stop tearing.

            " I'll talk to Albus, I won't let him call the Ministry. I won't let them take you."

            She stared at him from inside her rooms. He sighed as the door clicked shut. Warding it he stepped away.

            He quickly made his way to Albus, throwing open the door he bellowed.

            " She will not be sent away." He commanded.

            " Severus, I'm not calling the Ministry." Severus stopped short as he spoke.

            " She'll be safe here, we'll find a way, my friend. She will not be lost to us."

            Severus slowly nodded.

            He turned and made his way back to Hermione. His heart hurt. He felt stupid for leaving that note, even more so for not trusting her. She had confessed to him. Had opened herself to him and he used her the same bloody way they used him. He belted his head against her door.

            " Hermione." He called out to her, through the door. No answer.

            " Hermione!" He called again, still no answer. He hurled open the door.

She was gone.

~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~

            Hermione pushed past the crowds as she walked through London. Rage flowed through her veins. She had used her pocket watch to escape from the castle. "Let them ponder over that." Her mind spat. She was so hurt, so angry. She would go to Voldemort as soon as she cleared her head. She would ask that Severus be left to her.

            She melted into the small shop resigning her self to a booth in the corner. Her hand brushed over her wedding ring, and she bit back the urge to fling it across the room. She could hear Severus calling her through her thoughts. Frantically looking for her throughout the castle. She laughed in spite. " Going to be hard to use Hermione-the-know-it-all now that she's not under your little thumb." She smirked.

            She let her thoughts wonder as she starred out the window.

~~~~~~~**~~~~~~

            Severus threw himself into the Headmasters office.

            "She's gone!"

            " Severus?" The Headmaster stood abruptly.

            " I went to her rooms, she-is-gone." He sneered.

            The Headmaster opened his hands in defeat. " Then we wait."

            Severus fled. He knew it to be hopeless to search the castle but, it was his only hope, she wasn't answering his calls. He felt beaten.

~~~~~**~~~~~

            " My, Hermione." Lord Voldemort called as she plopped into his chamber.

            " My Lord, I have come with critical news." She spoke quietly.

            " What is wrong?" He asked in a serious tone.

            She took a deep breath. " Severus is in fact a spy. He's been lying to me… to us for sometime now."

            Voldemort seethed in anger. " He will die a traitors death."

            " My Lord, I have to ask, but I wish to give out his retribution. He has betrayed our vows and his word to me."

            Voldemort nodded. " I understand, is there anything else."

            Hermione bowed her head. " Yes, regrettably my lord, the Ministry is in possession of my potion notes along with a sample vile." She spoke softly.

            Voldemort narrowed his eyes in anger. " How long before they have employed the potion?" He asked his voice shaking with uncontrolled fury.

            " I do not know, Sir." She squeaked.

            " Then we attack as soon as possible. The rank has already imbibed the potion and the term is over."

            Hermione's eyes widen, the fight was about to begin.

            A/n: So she turned him in… shame on her. :0) Well the next chapter will be the war preparation chapter. Like I said before Severus, and Hermione will not die… however I cannot be held accountable for other cannon characters.

            This chapter is kind of blah! Cause it's one of those necessary chapters; you have my word that I will endeavor to make the next ones perfecto!

            Okay?