A/N: Please forgive me if this has a few more spelling/grammer mistakes than usual. This was written during an involuntary bout of insomnia. There's a big music festival in town here, and the Swedes are STILL partying at the ungodly hour of 3 AM. I'm exhausted, but in the mood to write so here's the result.
Also, thank you so, so much to everybody who has read or reviewed this story so far. I never expected it to get such a response, but what can I say, Lara's plot is just catching ; )
I promise I will get around to answering individual questions and reviews, I've just been really swamped with school work lately. But after my final next week, I will have more time for more than just writing.
(Continues directly from the previous chapter)
************
The curse hit the wall and a blinding green light filled half of the room as the brick behind it exploded. Neither of the men saw Hermione, dead or alive until she grabbed Lucious' wand from him and cast the body-binding curse on him. She then bound his body in the same roped that had held her for good measure.
"How did you-" Salazar began, stunned to see her in front of him.
To his surprise she gave a derisive snort. "If he plans to continuing kidnap people, he either needs to learn the body binder curse, or learn how to tie knots." Hermione rubbed her wrists absently, and Salazar noticed how raw and red they were from her twisting. "He didn't even remember to take my wand." Hermione said, slightly amused.
"The others will be here soon."
"I admit I was rather surprised to see you come by yourself."
"The rest of them are going to be here momentarily I expect." Hermione noticed that Salazar hadn't looked her in the eye once, since she'd freed herself.
"Why did you let him put the cruciatus on you?"
"I suspected that if I escaped then, he would have just hit me with it anyway and then kill me before I could get away."
"I'd never have been able to forgive myself."
"Don't. I'm healthy and alive so let's not worry about the 'what might have beens.'"
"I'm sorry. But there is something you need to know about me, its important. Its why we can't be together."
"I already know who you are-Severus."
Salazar shivered, liking the way his given name rolled off her tongue. He lifted his eyes to look upon her and immediately wished he hadn't. The sadness that registered in her eyes gave the impression that she was much older than eighteen. He would do anything to take that look from her pained eyes. "I am sorry, I just don't know what else to say."
She looked up, her eyes full of unshed tears and spoke in a shaking voice. " You'll go back to your own time and you won't remember me. Nothing will change for me, but instead of having a boyfriend I'll have a memory. I'll remember you, every kiss, every touch everything that we've done together and you won't be here with me." Her voice broke and the tears began sliding down her cheeks.
Hermione regained her composure and spoke again. "The most confusing thing of all though is that I know who you become, and I know who you are. How do I deal with that? How am I supposed to live with all these feelings when I know that you won't remember them?"
"I will remember Hermione. I promise."
"Oh isn't this touching? Young twits in love." The drawling voice of Draco Malfoy said.
"Expeliramus!" He shouted and seconds later had Hermione, Lucious and Salazar's wands in his hand.
"What an unusual turn events. Two stupid Gryffindors within easy reach." Malfoy sneered.
"Enervate." He pointed his wand at his father and seconds later Lucious was on his feet.
"A true Slytherin always has a few tricks up his sleeve. Did you really think I wouldn't let my son in on such a momentous occasion? How very….." he trailed off.
"Gryffindor, we get it." Hermione spat.
"Foolish." Lucious finished, his cold blue eyes lit with hate.
"Loath as I am to admit it, I believe you are the foolish one Lucious." The cultured voice of Severus Snape answered.
"Kidnapping students? Bad form Malfoy."
"Severus." Lucious acknowledged the potions master.
"Salazar, Miss Granger, leave. A pair of aurors is outside the door, as are professors Dumbledore and McGonaggal." Snape said, keeping his eyes on the Malfoys at all time.
"No. We're staying. Two against one isn't fair." Salazar said firmly.
Before Severus had time to argue both Malfoys began throwing curses at the others, and the wandless Gryffindor's started ducking to avoid everything from the body bind to the cruciatus. Through a small gap in the fighting, Salazar and Hermione charged Draco and tackled him to the ground. The Slytherin boy struggled to free himself but was overcome. Hermione searched his pockets for their own wands while Salazar pinned the pale boy to the floor. Hermione cast a curse and thin white ropes shot out of her wand binding Draco's wrists and ankles together. For good measure Hermione gagged Draco with the own dirty piece of fabric that had imprisoned the workings of her vocal cords earlier.
When the young man had been subdued, the two turned their attention to the elder Snape and Malfoy. The two wizards were fighting a fierce duel, both were too proud to simply cast an immobilizing curse; a duel was a distinguished method of determining who was the better wizard. Hermione and Salazar weren't nearly as patient and wished for the ordeal to be over. Looking at each other, they raised their wands and bellowed 'expaliramus' at the same time Lucious let loose with a curse of his own directed at Snape.
Lucious was thrown off balance and into the wall where he was knocked unconscious. Salazar rushed over to tie him up and Hermione turned to look for Snape, who to her dismay was lying on the ground clutching his left shoulder. She ran to him and dropped to her knees beside him. Blood had soaked through his robes and she could see the source was a small dagger, which had been imbedded into his flesh to the hilt. "Get Dumbledore and McGonaggal!" Hermione shouted to Salazar.
The boy ran out of the room to find out what was taking so long. Hermione debated on weather or not to pull the weapon out to the wound. She decided on not and ripped some fabric from her robes to make a tourniquet. Hermione ripped off another piece and transfigured it into a blanket to cover the fallen man with. She bent her head to check his breathing and his pulse. "Don't quit on us now." She whispered and tried to calm her own breathing as she waited for help.