A/N Thanks sooo much to everyone who reviewed! I wasn't expecting nearly so many reviews, so I'm really, really happy! Thanks to Maiva, for being my first reviewer, and as to your question, vampires are subtly different in everything you read. My interpretation's different again. And now it's on to part two. I don't own Snape, Hermione, or anything else you might recognise that came from J K Rowling's wonderful books. R/R!
Hermione was seated next to Snape at a long table surrounded by important people. She wasn't sure quite what else to call them; they ranged from representatives from other countries to famed potion makers to important ministry lawmakers. At the moment, though, Fudge was babbling on about goodness-knows-what, and everybody was trying to look interested. At last, Fudge sat down, and Snape stood up, subtly nudging Hermione to do the same. She rose nearly as gracefully as he did, thankful for his warning. She hadn't heard a word that Fudge had said.
"As the minister of magic has said, we are here to talk about a potion we have recently brewed, one to turn vampires to the men or women they were originally. In the upcoming days, we will speak of the theory behind the potion, show you its ingredients, and give a demonstration of its effectiveness." Snape was in teaching mode, and Hermione almost expected him to follow this up with a wry 'Are there any questions?' He didn't.
The next four hours were taken up with questions which Hermione and Snape took turns in answering. By the time they retired to their own rooms, Hermione was exhausted. She had finished showering and was beginning to wonder what they would do for dinner when Snape knocked on the door joining their rooms. He came in at her call, and said, "Dinner is served, if you would care to join me."
"Of course," Hermione said, and was surprised when Snape turned back the way he came. After a second's hesitation, Hermione followed. She didn't find herself in Snape's room, but in large room with a table and two chairs. On the other side of the room she saw another door, and presumed that it lead to Snape's room. Food was on the table, so Hermione sat. Snape sat down opposite her, and offered her the breadbasket wordlessly. Hermione was surprised by the courtesy, but said nothing. She took a roll, murmured her thanks, and put it on her plate.
They ate in silence for a while, until Snape broke Hermione's thoughts by asking, "What did you think of today?"
"It was okay."
"You did well." The compliment took Hermione by surprise- was he trying to comfort her, to put her at ease? Or did he truly mean it?
"I felt uncomfortable," Hermione said, without quite realising it. She hadn't meant to be so open, but it just came out.
"Why?" His voice was soft, much softer than it ever had been before.
"I- I feel so young compared to everyone else," Hermione said, looking into his eyes for the first time since she had sat down. "I feel like they all look down on me because of it. And they ask me questions… I know the answers to them, but they seem to be almost testing me!"
"It's a cold comfort, but those types of questions will cease when they realise that you do know what you are talking about."
"I know. I just wonder what it would be like if I didn't know the answers. They would think me silly, and then they would disregard this whole thing."
"Hermione," Snape said, again in the soft voice, "you know more about potions than any other student in the school, and quite a few of the professors, dare I say it. They will slowly come to accept you."
"I hope so, Professor," Hermione said. Snape looked as if he was about to say something, but he refrained. Instead, he gave a half-smile and continued eating. Hermione did so too.
Once they had finished, Snape said, "Tomorrow is going to be all answering questions, again. It's a waste of time, in my own opinion, but I wasn't asked that when we were summoned to this interview," he smiled wryly again. "But they need to know the theory behind what may soon become a major defence against dark, and there is a slim chance that their questions may bring an idea for improvement to the potion."
"I find that hard to believe," Hermione said, remembering the types of questions that she was asked. And then, "This is just such a waste of time! We could be getting onto important things, instead of answering question after question, proving to them that we actually know what we're talking about." Hermione hadn't missed the testing questions that were thrown at Snape, although there were considerably less of them for him than for her.
"I know. But all we can do is make the best of it. I think I will retire, now. Goodnight, Hermione." He stood up and went through the other door, and Hermione stood too. She went into her own room, and was soon asleep.
~*~*~
The next day was worse than the first one. It was so boring, Hermione thought, drilling their ideas into the uncomprehending minds of these annoying people. They didn't understand, they thought that they knew better than she did, and they were constantly testing her, trying to find flaws in her argument, trying to find some error in her words or some inconsistency in her ideas. By lunchtime, she was ready to scream with frustration. They broke for lunch, and the whole group, this time, ate outside. Hermione made certain to sit next to Snape, she didn't know what would happen if she got separated from him- somebody would very probably get hexed, she decided.
Sitting to her right was a girl in her mid-twenties. Hermione realised with a start that it was Percy's girlfriend from her second year, Penelope something. She smiled at her, realising that she hadn't been one to constantly plague her with useless question. Penelope smiled back, and started up a conversation about Arithmancy, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the vampire potion. Hermione couldn't have been happier.
They were discussing one of the more controversial aspects when Snape joined the conversation, and soon lunch was over before Hermione even realised it. She was much more relaxed, and more able to deal with the rest of the questions and points raised by the committee.
Hermione saw Penelope speaking quietly to a few of the more troublesome members of the group that afternoon, and after that there was a marked decrease in the number of pointless questions directed at her. Hermione smiled thankfully at Penelope, and continued to explain to one particularly dense wizard why they used the flower of the garlic plant as opposed to the root. At last, around four o'clock, there were no more questions. Everybody seemed satisfied with the potion, so Snape addressed the group.
"If there are no more issues to be raised, I will conclude today's meeting. If there are no objections, we will meet here again tonight at eleven o'clock to test a sample of potion on a vampire I believe has been spared in a raid for this purpose."
There was a murmur of consent, from everyone present, and then they all stood to leave. Hermione followed Snape out of the conference room once more, feeling much more optimistic than she had yesterday. Out of sight and hearing from the room, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank God that's over! No more infuriating questions!"
"I have a question for you, although whether it will be infuriating or not I could not say." Snape smiled for the third time since he had been away from Hogwarts. Hermione wondered whether he was getting more comfortable in her company, or if it was the absence of the students that influenced him.
"Ask on. I'm sure it's not as trivial as that lot in there were, in any case."
"Well, then. You kept fiddling with the chain around your neck in there. I was wondering what you have on it."
"Oh," Hermione blushed. "It's just crystal potion bottles, shrunk in size. It was a present from my parents a while ago. I keep samples of the most useful potions I come across in them."
"You have a sample of the vampire potion in there, do you?"
"Yes. Along with stasis potions, stunning potions, sleeping drafts, fire protections, simple revival potions; I've spent too much time with Harry and Ron not to realise the value of having emergency things with me, just in case." She smiled, thinking how useful her potions could have been in her third year, when she 'attacked' Snape, or in her first year, when on the path to the philosopher's stone.
"It is a good idea, one that I, perhaps, would be wise to take note of."
Hermione didn't know how to reply to that, so she kept quiet. Once they reached their rooms, Hermione asked, "Are we going to eat before we go?"
"I would assume so."
"Okay, then. See you soon." Inwardly cringing at sounding like a first year with her foot in her mouth, Hermione went inside to once more shower and change her clothes. Then she went into the dining room again, to be met with Snape only moments later. They ate together, Hermione quite comfortable in Snape's presence now. There was a continuation of the discussion that Hermione and Penelope had started that lasted through the main course and halfway through dessert, and then a discussion on whether modifying the Unforgivibles and using them to tame ferocious animals ought to be legal lasted through the rest of dessert, and ended up with Snape and Hermione sitting in the armchairs in Hermione's room, debating furiously.
After that, they went from subject to subject, discussing different things. Hermione felt herself warming even more to her Potions professor. If only Harry and Ron could see this side of him! Although, perhaps they wouldn't appreciate the academic focus of the conversation, Ron especially. Before Hermione even knew it, it was half-past ten, and time to go. She stood up reluctantly, as did Snape, and they both stretched unconsciously. Then it was off the group of people waiting to see their potion in action.
~*~*~
They were back in the conference room once more, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Finally, at about a quarter to midnight, the last group of people arrived.
"If the latecomers will settle down," Snape said, with more than a hint of venom in his voice, "Then we can proceed. Any of you not wishing to be in the room when the vampire is let out can leave now. There is a charm placed on that wall," he indicated to the wall opposite him, "So that you can observe the happenings in here from outside. You are all, of course, welcome to stay in this room and observe, as long as you do not distract us, and you know that you are responsible for your own actions.
Nobody left the room. Hermione wondered whether that was due to pride or whether they were honestly not afraid, but she didn't get a chance to decide because Snape handed her a bottle of potion, and then stepped forward to use his wand to remove the lid of the coffin that the vampire was in.
As soon as the lid was off, the vampire rose. It looked around itself with a snarl, cowering away from the lights, and saw Hermione. With a leap, it flung itself at her. She was ready, though, and threw the contents of the bottle in its face. Some landed in its open mouth.
The vampire swallowed, and then fell suddenly to the floor in mid-leap. Hermione smiled grimly to herself, the demonstration had gone as well as hoped. She cautiously made her way to the vampire, and saw that Snape was doing the same. A woman, this time, lay there. She had long, auburn hair, and a thin frame. She was shaking, and Hermione stepped forward and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"You're okay. You had a bit of an accident, there are some mediwizards on hand to help."
The woman stood shakily, wonder in her eyes. "I was surrounded by them," she said with awe. "They were closing in on me! How could I have escaped?"
"That will take some explanation," Snape said softly. "If you'll go with the mediwizards here, they'll look you over and explain everything."
"I – okay." She stepped slowly down, taking in her surroundings. As she reached the mediwizards, they began speaking comfortingly to her, and then gave her a potion of some sort. She began to visibly relax, and then was led off. Once she had left the room, Snape said,
"That was our demonstration. As you can see, that woman is no more a vampire than I am." Hermione fought a sudden smile, thinking about what Ron would say to that. As if reading her thoughts, Snape added, "Despite what some of my students might say."
There was laughter from the audience. "If there are no questions or issues, may I suggest we retire for the night? We will meet back here at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
The crowd dispersed, and Hermione once again walked back to her rooms with Snape.
"I thought that went quite well." Hermione said.
"It did. It surprised some of the sceptics, though."
"Yes. They'll be back tomorrow, though, wanting proof and another demonstration and all sorts."
"That's what we're here for," Snape said, smiling ironically. "To convince the people that we know what we're talking about. It will take time. I give it another three days before we can go back to Hogwarts."
"And then two weeks before school starts again?"
"I believe so. Christmas day is next week, and then there is another week before the second term begins."
"Okay. Well, goodnight then." They had reached their rooms.
"I'll see you in the morning, Hermione." She smiled, and went into her room.
~*~*~
It was still dark. That was the first thing she noticed. The second was that it was cold. As she reached around sleepily to pull her covers back over herself, she realised the third thing. She couldn't move. Six and a half years with Harry and Ron hadn't been wasted. She immediately stopped struggling, and forced her brain to work. Where was she? It was pitch black, and she couldn't move her arms or legs. A body-bind, then. She could feel clothes- the nightgown she wore to sleep in. So she had been asleep.
A soft whisper behind her alerted her to other people in the room, and then she felt herself lifting up. She was moving, but didn't feel anything on her forcing her to do that. Magic.
Suddenly, dim lights came on. Hermione found that she was in the room she usually ate in with Snape. She was moving, floating slowly towards the door that presumably led to his rooms. She still hadn't been in them. Then she stopped, in front of the door. A cloaked figure appeared to her right, and then knocked on the door.
"Severus. Open the door." The voice was hoarse, coming from the man who had knocked. On her left, another figure materialised. Hermione tried to open her mouth, to shout at Snape not to do anything, but she couldn't. All she could do was watch in helplessness.
Then she heard Snape's voice on the other side of the door. "Who is it?" He was being cautious, then. And then Snape must have made use of the magical spy-hole in the door, because he immediately said, "Let her go! Who are you?"
"Old friends, Severus. Her room wasn't warded as yours was. And you will come out now, or things will not go well for your little assistant, here." The figure to her left gripped her arm, and slowly twisted it back. It hurt, but Hermione couldn't make a noise even if she had wanted to. The body bind wouldn't let her.
"Let her go!" Snape's voice was furious, to an extent that Hermione had never heard, not even directed at Harry.
"Not until you come out here. I'm warning you!" This was the one twisting her arm. They were both men, then.
"I will come out! Stop it!" Snape began to unlock his door. Hermione put all her efforts into screaming at him not to, but she couldn't open her mouth. Damn this spell! Why hadn't she thought to ward her rooms? Why hadn't Snape told her to? It's not his fault, she reminded herself. How could he have known this would happen? He probably only warded his own out of habit.
Snape's door opened, and he came out. Somebody shouted 'stupefy.'
~*~*~
Hermione came back into consciousness slowly, wondering why she was so cold and uncomfortable. Her brain sluggishly began to work, slowly recalling her recent memories. She sat up with a groan, and saw that Snape was lying on the stone floor about a foot away. Recent events aside, Hermione immediately crawled over to Snape, not daring to try and stand just yet. He was lying on his back, and his skin was as pale as she had ever seen it. He was breathing, though, and, from the rise and fall of his chest, it appeared to be around normal rate, so Hermione just sat next to him.
It was too much to hope that she would have her wand, and a quick search proved that she didn't. She was still in her nightshirt, and so was without the usual contents of her pockets. All she did have was her wristwatch, her necklace with the different potions, and the nightgown she was wearing. Not particularly good, all told, although the necklace was a blessing she hadn't been expecting. It was lucky that she hadn't taken it off last night. Then Snape stirred, and immediately her thoughts went back to him. Was he waking up?
He was. As soon as his eyes were open, Hermione asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." The response was mechanical. He would have said it regardless.
"Really, professor, are you hurt?" 'Professor' seemed the wrong thing to call him, but she didn't know how else to address him.
"I'm not hurt- which is more than I had hoped for. I assume they stupefied you the same time they did me?"
"I… guess." It was so cold! Where were they? And who had kidnapped them? "Do you know where we are?"
"A dungeon in a cold climate, apparently. That narrows it down to a hemisphere, give and take." His sarcasm hadn't disappeared, then. Was it, perhaps, a way to cope? A way to cope with his job, with his students, and with his life? It was an interesting concept, but one she would have to think about another time.
"Ha ha. It's too cold for sarcasm. I'm freezing."
"It's no wonder- my clothing is more… substantial than your own, and I am cold. Would you like my cloak?"
"Then you'd be cold!" The strangeness of the situation didn't even occur to her- the Snape she had been with during the holiday and worked with for the past months was a completely different person to her old potions master. "But I wouldn't say no to sharing it with you."
Snape looked very surprised for a moment, before once more schooling his features to blankness. "Of course you may." He made a movement to unfasten it, but before he could even begin, Hermione had moved closer to him. She put a hand on his arm to tell him to stop, and then sat right next to him and pulled part of the cloak to cover her shoulders. Snape's shock tripled, and Hermione wondered when the last time somebody had voluntarily touched him had been. Resolving to do it more often when she wasn't compelled by cold, she grinned at him. "Nothing beats body warmth."
She needed to let him know that she had her necklace with the potions on it, that there was an opportunity for escape, but she would bet anything that the room was spelled for listening charms, and probably viewing ones, too. Well, there was one way. Stifling a nervous giggle, and ignoring a funny jump somewhere in the region of her stomach, Hermione took Snape's arm, and guided it around her shoulders and to the neckline of her robe. Before he could say anything, she pressed the chain into his hand, praying that he would understand.
He did. Into her ear, he whispered, "Clever." Hermione smiled slightly, squeezed his hand in thanks, and then let go. Snape held his hand where it was for a moment, before moving it away to less intimate areas, around her shoulders.
Grateful for his warmth, Hermione stayed comfortable where she was, wondering again how they could escape this situation. A click startled her out of her reverie, and, looking up, Hermione saw the only door in the room begin to open. Snape's arm around her tightened, whether in protectiveness or by reflex, she couldn't say.
Through the door came two men, clothed in similar black robes to those of her captors last night. Hermione tensed. It looked as though she was about to find out where they were and why they were here.
"Snape!" The taller of the two men spat out sharply. Hermione couldn't see his face because of the hood covering it, and she didn't recognise his voice, either.
"Correct, Phillips. Is there a reason for my student and myself to be… detained, here?"
"His lordship is most displeased with you. You are to follow immediately!" The man that Snape had addressed as Phillips spun on his heel and lead the way out. The second man levelled his wand at Hermione, gesturing forcefully with his free hand for them to precede him. Snape rose, pulling Hermione gently up with him. Hermione was quite stable on her feet, to her surprise, and Snape seemed to be, too. He moved his arm from around her shoulder, but took her hand as they left the cell. Whether it was for her comfort or to make sure they did not become separated, Hermione didn't know. She was glad of the reassurance, though, as they passed countless doors in the stone passageway, the gloom sporadically lit up with flickering torches.
Then, all of a sudden, they were in his presence. Despite all her adventures and her time spent with Harry and Ron, Hermione had never seen Voldemort before. All of Harry's descriptions fell short at the… thing in front of her. He couldn't be called a man, and he certainly couldn't be called a person. She understood immediately why Harry refused to avoid saying his name. She knew with an absolute clarity that she had been wrong in imploring Harry not to say his name. Voldemort did not need any more fear credited to his account.
Voldemort spoke. "Snape." Hermione's Potions professor inclined his head without a word. This seemed to anger Voldemort, who immediately said, "You believe yourself above greeting me in the usual manner of my servants?"
"It is too late for grovelling." Snape's words were calm and even. He still held her hand.
Voldemort's face darkened. He obviously did not like others getting the better of him. He evidently knew of Snape's role, because his face held no surprise. "Why is it that knowledge of your new invention went first to the ministry? Had you any intention of revealing this new potion to me?"
"Sending it to the ministry was the most sensible thing to do. My intentions were for the best."
"Which side have you chosen, Severus Snape? You cannot, beyond this point, remain loyal to both sides. You are valuable to me, it is true, and I do not wish to have to kill you. But not invaluable, your little assistant seems competent, for all she is a mudblood." Voldemort's mouth was cruel, his eyes glittering with malice. Hermione said nothing, but she stood straight and looked Voldemort in his eyes. She couldn't quail now. She wouldn't.
Snape, it seemed, decided that his charade was over. His next words were spoken unfalteringly, "I have not been torn between two sides since I turned to Dumbledore. It is to him my loyalties lie, as well you know."
"You admit to being a traitor?" Voldemort accused, his voice now full of malicious fury, but again, no surprise. He knew, and was angry.
"I was a traitor to my beliefs the moment I joined you twenty years ago. I have not been one in nineteen of those years." Snape spoke softly and clearly. Even though Hermione knew Voldemort couldn't afford to kill Snape, because he needed to know about the potion, she was afraid for him.
As Voldemort said, "My use for you is running quickly out. You had better find some respect, or you will end up under Crucio!"
"I can't brew a potion if I'm under Crucio," Snape said coolly, as Hermione wondered if he was going too far, "and you need me, at least for this one potion. You still have use for me, loath as you are to admit it."
"There are other ways to hurt you, Snape, of that you may be sure. There are those you love." Voldemort's gaze was cruel, but Snape's smile was ironically sour. As he opened his mouth, no doubt to respond, Voldemort continued, "There are. Your little assistant here… or student, or lover, or whatever you choose to call her today, will do very well for a start."
Snape stiffened, no doubt to object, but Hermione cut in smoothly, feeling that she had remained silent for too long. "The potion you want him to brew takes at least two with experience. He couldn't do it alone, and I'm sure none of your fan club would be capable of understanding the complexities of the potion."
"So the girl speaks," Voldemort interjected, a cruel smile playing on her lips, "How amusing. But enough of this nonsense! You will return to the cell you were in, for now. Tomorrow, you will brew the vampire potion for me. Do it incorrectly, well, the Dementors need feeding. If you brew the potion properly, then you will both have a place here, brewing potions as I see fit. The specialities of my deatheaters lie in… other areas. Take them away!"
Hermione and Snape were marched back down to the dungeons. It was still freezing cold, and they had assumed their old positions after ten minutes, Hermione huddled next to Snape, his arm around her shoulders.
"Professor?" Hermione asked tentatively.
For the third time that trip when she had said 'professor,' he looked hesitant. Then, with an air of decision, he said, "Hermione, I am hardly your professor at the moment. It would be more appropriate for you to call me by my given name."
"Um-" Hermione began, not quite sure what to say, but Snape reminded her,
"It's Severus, in case you did not know."
"I know that!" Hermione said exasperatedly, treating him for a moment like she would a friend, and then realising it. "Um, sorry."
Snape actually smiled. "You had a question?"
"Yes. How can we do the potion if we don't have our wands? I mean, the wand-work is complex, and Voldemort surely can't expect…"
"He won't. He will give us our wands when we need them to brew the potion, after having placed sufficient guards on the room, and probably gained some sort of hold over us."
"Like what?" Hermione asked tentatively, suddenly worried.
"Probably either a friend of yours or your parents," Severus said as gently as he could.
"Oh," Hermione said, thinking hard. Dumbledore had told her that he would put her parents under protection for the duration of the holiday, and Snape obviously knew that. He didn't mention it, though, so perhaps he didn't want Voldemort to know- this was so hard, trying to anticipate what Snape would prefer that she left unsaid, and what it would be prudent to say.
"I'm sure there's a way around it," Hermione said distantly, fingering her necklace. There had to be a way. Perhaps Dumbledore could create a… what was it called? A copy of her parents, a… oh, the word was there, but just out of reach. Well, if Dumbledore had created copies… simulacrums! … of her parents, Voldemort should hopefully not know the difference, although Hermione herself would. Which was one obstacle out of the way. So how could they escape?
They would have their wands, but not the power of Apparation. They couldn't talk together and plan it out, that was for certain. They had her potions, but what exactly was there? A variety of sleeping potions, stunning potions, an invisibility potion, one lending strength, another courage, a sample of polyjuice… there was enough to be of use, at any rate. There were the beginnings of an idea forming, the means, but not the end. Oh well, she could sleep on it. It wasn't as though she was lacking in time.
Hermione did actually find herself drowsing off against Severus. It really was quite comfortable here. In fact, a short doze was looking very appealing…
~*~*~
Hermione awoke to the sound of the door opening again. In came another deatheater clad in black, bearing a tray of food, of all things. Hermione sat up properly, and saw that Severus was awake. He said, "If we are to remain alive, I suggest you bring some more substantial clothing. We will freeze, and I am quite sure that we will be of no use to your master as icicles."
"I will look into it," the man said coldly. He set down the tray, and hurried from the room. Severus went to the tray, and Hermione stood and followed him, realising quite suddenly that she was very hungry.
The tray had food, if you used the term loosely, on two plates, and what appeared to be mud in two chipped mugs. "Five-star service, I see," Hermione commented, in an attempt to lighten the situation.
"Always the best for Voldemort's prisoners," Severus said absently as he looked over the food. Then he sat back with a smirk. "I am not a Potions' master for nothing!"
"They drugged the food, I take it?"
"Naturally. Amateur work, I must say, apparent at first sight. Go on then, girl, see if you can identify the concoctions used."
Hermione smiled, liking the challenge. "Well, they put something into the coffee, I'm presuming it's coffee, which thickened it up, kept the same brown colour, and does not react to the coffee itself. It can't alter the flavour too much, otherwise we'd notice it before drinking it all down, so it has to be 'dormiensa.' You know, the names people come up with for potions are generally really boring, aren't they? They can't even use Latin properly! Anyway, on the- I'm guessing it's chicken- is another potion. It alters the appearance to a darker colour, has a smell of… mustard, and it's quite thin. Designed to curb our responses and make us trusting, it's the 'cavere numquam.' Then there's the 'volere dedere' on the bread, and then 'nullus evadire' on the cutlery itself."
"Very good, Hermione. I wasn't expecting you to catch any of those. I suggest we consume nothing but the coffee… that, I think, will be most prudent."
"Okay, then," Hermione said. She picked up her mug and, with an encouraging look from Severus, swallowed the mixture in one gulp. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that he did the same.
~*~*~
She found herself in a considerably warmer room, with an incredible need to relieve herself. Glancing around, she saw that Snape was still asleep. Thankful for that, she went to the toilet in the corner that was devoid of any coverings for modesty, and used it. Then she returned to where Snape was, reluctant to wake him, and gazed around the room.
It was warmer than the dungeon room. The walls were white, and the floor was wooden, not made of stone. They must be on an upper floor, then. There was a single door leading off the room, and no windows. There was a cauldron set up on the far side, with fire underneath, and a nearby table covered in potion ingredients. Next to the table was her wand! She ran over to collect it, and felt a wave of relief once she had it in her hand. She hadn't realised just how vulnerable she had felt without it.
Once over there, Hermione noticed that a few of the key ingredients for the potion were missing, and there was no knife to get the blood. It would seem that Voldemort didn't know the full extent of the ingredients needed for the potion; that could be useful. And then she noticed that Snape's wand wasn't there. Pocketing her own wand, she went back to Severus with a sigh. Perhaps they could get it later. She didn't hold out much hope.
Her professor was on the floor, but he was breathing regularly, and looked so peaceful that Hermione decided that she wouldn't wake him. He probably wouldn't thank her for it, but he would need his wits about him if they were to escape. In the meantime, she should really find out what wards were in place on this room. A quick wave of her wand and a spell that had come in infinitely useful over the past few years showed her exactly what was in place over the room. A listening spell was keyed to the whole room and to Hermione herself, which was interesting. Why not to Snape? Then it became obvious. Hermione could remove the wards on the room, if not easily, but she couldn't remove the spell on herself. Only another person could do that magic, and Snape didn't have a wand. It was highly unlikely that Snape would be compatible with her wand, because, for all Voldemort's deatheaters knew, he didn't like Hermione, he hadn't in the same house as Hermione at Hogwarts, and all he had in common with her was this potion.
Voldemort's servants were skimping on the spells. There was also a heating spell on the room, with a watching charm woven in. That was clever; if they took the watching charm off, they would freeze to death. It was of a kind that was hard to do, as well- Hermione could take it off and put it back on, but she couldn't separate the watching from the warmth; to do that would need a magical amplifier of some sort. There was an overall spell preventing Apparation that was keyed into the very foundations of the castle, so that was out. Then there were plenty of wards on the doors, ones that prevented escape and wearing down of the door, plus strength reinforcing spells.
Well, what Hermione could do was remove some of the escaping wards on the door and the listening spell on the room. She couldn't do anything about the watching spell or the spell on her, but she would try to see what Snape could do when he awoke. Which he was doing now.
Snape's eyes were opening, and when he saw her he grimaced, probably in an attempt to smile. He got to his feet, ignoring the hand that Hermione held out for him, and, with a better smile this time, headed for the corner of the room that Hermione had made use of when she woke. Hermione hastily turned her back, trying to stop the blushing. Then, realising she was being silly, she went over to the cauldron to see what they had.
Snape joined her a moment later in regarding the ingredients. "We'll need the garlic flower, a knife, our wands, wolfsbane, hemlock, and mint leaves."
Hermione nodded, not saying anything about the addition of hemlock, which was not used in the potion. "Yes. Oh, and I have my wand. It was lying on the table, but yours isn't there."
Snape raised his eyebrows, his eyes saying more than the next words he uttered, "If they think we can do this potion with just one wand, they're mistaken."
"I know that, we'll have to talk to old Voldie when we get the chance." Hermione grinned at him, and his smile in return was less forced than his first two. "Before you woke up, I noted a couple of spells on the room. I removed the overall listening spell, and a couple of wards on the door."
"I see. I take it there were more that you did not or could not remove?"
Snape was using his professorial voice, which prompted Hermione to answer with a "Yes sir."
"Very well. This may sound impertinent, but I have no other choice. May I see your wand, to find out if it will work for me?"
Hermione handed it over at once, not surprised. On normal occasions, it was extremely rare for a wizard to handle the wand of another, much less use it. However, this was hardly a normal situation.
Snape took her wand, and muttered a spell that Hermione couldn't hear. That was a good thing, because it meant that whoever was on the receiving end of the listening spell on her couldn't hear it either. Then he turned to her, face downcast, and said, "No. It didn't work."
Hermione would have believed him if it weren't for the gleam in his eyes.
A/N And so it's the end of the second part, with no real fluff as of yet. But don't worry; the third of four parts will be up soon, with fluff for everyone… well maybe. But leave a review and you'll find out…