Disclaimer: All items relating or pertaining to the Harry Potter Universe belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Inc., and the Warner Brothers Co. Please don't sue me, I have no money.

Author: Joy

Title: Black Cadillac

Rating: PG-13

Summary: In answer to the 'Snape's Wheels' plotbunny on WIKTT. The year is 1999, and the war rages on. But for two of wizarding kind's brightest minds, the time has come where survival is priority. Can they find escape together? Will they find it in one another? SS/HG.

AN: The title is inspired by Jordan Avenue's song 'Blue Cadillac'. A great song to listen to while reading this fic! Check out the artist at jordanave.com

Also, I sincerely appologize for the lack of updating. I was hit with a bad case of writer's block. Anyways, a GREAT deal of this chapter was written and inspired by RunningPadfoot, one of my most loyal fans. I gave her the chance to have a piece of the action, which she willingly accepted.

After returning the finished chapter to me, I went through and edited it; adding my own vision and flavor. The end result is a bi-product of our combined genious. I hope you all enjoy.

And again, a BIG thanks to RunningPadfoot.



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Hermione woke a few mornings later, feeling very refreshed. Yawning and stretching, she looked over at the alarm clock on her bedside table.


"Eight O'clock?" she nearly squeeked, jumping out of bed and nearly tangling herself in her blankets in the process. Grabbing her white, terrycloth robe, she hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower. After she was finished, she returned to her bedroom and hastily threw open her armoir doors. After rummaging through the stacks of clothes, she chose a black, linen pants suit with a wine red blouse. She quickly dressed before heading out to the living room of the apartment.


'I can't believe I slept late.' She thought to herself with a trace of agitation in her features. After setting the percolator, she grabbed an orange and began roaming around.


She didn't see Severus anywhere, which was odd; he was normally up around seven and always was working on something. It was slightly scary not having him there; he had become somewhat her protection, her comfort - not that she was exactly ready to admit it to anyone.


She returned to the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee, and in the process of stirring in cream saw a note on the island. Quirking an eyebrow, she snatched it up and read the contents. It was from Severus.



Dearest Hermione,

I appologize if my absense has startled you. While watching the morning news, I came across something that may be of interest to you. After many unsuccessful attempts at utilizing the telephone, I decided to fetch it myself. I should be back around noon. I suggest you take the day off, as well.

Severus



Hermione frowned as she sipped at her coffee. She couldn't think of anything that would provoke Severus to leave at such an early hour; or why he suddenly would care about things that may interest her. It was something to ponder over as she finished off her breakfast of coffee and fruit.


'Well,' Hermione thought to herself, 'I have about four hours to kill. What should I do?' Though she was very tempted to bury herself in work, undisturbed, Severus' last words in the letter made her think twice. She had been in the confinement of an apartment for about two weeks straight, save the times she had to go to the corner grocery, and that was only for about thirty minutes at a time. Aside from thier first day, she hadn't really had a chance to explore the city or its various shops. Something she'd been wanting to do for a great while.


But as she was want to do, Hermione began second guessing herself, yet again. She could get in serious trouble, either with Dumbledore or Severus. She wasn't exactly sure what her limiations where. She knew well enough not to use magic in public, for fear of alerting any of Voldemort's minions; but did that mean she couldn't roam freely around the city?


'Perhaps I should stay close to the apartment, in case there is an emergency.' Hermione mused silently, drawing back a curtain to peer at the street below.


"You can never be to careful." She found herself muttering. Her mother had always said that before she left to go to Hogwarts each year. All of a sudden, she had a strong pang of longing and sadness as memories of her parents flooded through her. The good and the bad; but even worse, the day she found them dead.


It took a lot of deep breathing and a box of tissue before Hermione was able to calm down. She hadn't allowed herself to truly grieve in the time since thier death; but now that Severus wasn't around, she found it all too easy. She missed both dearly, and with all her heart.


'I can't let it bring me down. They would want me to be happy.' She told herself, taking a last deep breath. Picking up her wand from the coffee table, she did a quick refreshing charm - a handly little charm that removed the puffy and redness caused by crying - and picked up her purse.


"It's time to move on." Hermione murmured as she drew on her long, black peacoat. It was near the end of October, and it would be nippy. Grabbing her house keys, she locked the door and headed out.



*****



"I think I'll take..." Severus trailed off, looking over his choices. "I'll take this one...yes." He stammered, pointing at one of the products. Since just before eight this morning, he had been out shopping. It was now near eleven, and he was finally getting what he wanted. He was worn out and growing agitated. He wanted to get home and relax, perhaps have a nice lunch with Hermione.


'Home.' He though wistfully. He'd never really thought of anyplace as his home; not even Hogwarts. And suddenly everything about Boston, the Beacon Hill apartment, and Hermione screamed HOME!


"That will be $98.79." The clerk told him, effectively snapping him from his reverie. Growling under his breath, Severus hastily wrote out the check and handed it over.


He tapped his foot impatiently as the clerk processed the check, not even stopping when the young man shot him a glare. After snatching the reciept from the clerk, Severus swept out of the store with as much intimidation as a long, leather jacket would permit.



*****



The walk back to the apartment was forboding, and gave Severus a sense of unease. Something wasn't right. He could feel the evil permeating the rich, fragrant air.


Death Eaters.


Reaching into his pocket, Severus clasped the end of his wand firmly and picked up his pace. They were nearer then he liked; nearer than they all thought.


He had to warn Hermione and get a note to Dumbledore. There was a very real chance that Voldemort was closing in; and in that case, they would have to pick up everything they were doing and relocate once again.


Trying to maintain his composure, Severus hurried up the walkway and unlocked the front door. Nearly slamming it behind him, he took the steps two at a time until he came to the door of the apartment. He jammed the key into the lock and scrambled around a bit before it clicked and opened.


Dropping his package on the couch, Severus ran through each room, searching for Hermione. Hermione was no where to be seen.


"No!" He bellowed, thinking the worse. Images and flashes of Death Eaters swarming around a helpless Hermione invaded his mind. He suddenly felt very sick. Stumbling backward, Severus fell through the swinging door and into the kitchen; praying that he had overlooked something. Obsidian eyes lit up as he spotted a note on the island. Severus sighed in relief, strolling over to pick it up.



Dearest Hermione,

I am terribly sorry that I am not...



"Damn it!" He exclaimed. Hope had actually shown itself in his mentality. He had been so sure it had been a note from Hermione explaining why she wasn't home. That was when he realized that he had told her to take the day off. Perhaps he had been overreacting.


'Whoa...' Severus thought to himself. 'This woman is having a strange effect on me. I find myself feeling things I haven't experienced since my teenage years... It's quite exhilerating.'


He resorted to pacing, something that used to fill hours at a time back at Hogwarts so efficiently; but he found it was losing its touch. He stopped after a few minutes, being too concerned to do anything. He felt a mix of guilt and maniac worry; guilt because he had sent Hermione out into an evil infested world in the hopes that she might be able to relax a bit. He tried to be optimistic, telling himself that she had probably just lost track of the time. But he knew he was hoping for too much. Considering why they were hiding together under false names and false homes and false lives he was sure something had happened, and he felt so helpless. She was not with him, and he didn't know why. He felt so lonely - and afraid. He looked down at the beautifully wrapped present beside him and wondered if he would be able to give it to her; he didn't know if she had been taken or not; the Dark Lord, with help of this *wonderful* little weapon he had discovered, might have found a way to get around the Fidelus Charm.


Just then the door flew open, causing Severus to jump up and whip out his wand. A person walked in, carrying way too many shopping bags from everywhere within ten kilometers of the apartment. It was Hermione, he noted with flooding relief.


She set the packages down and rubbed her wrists, then looked up to see Severus.


"Severus! You're home early!" She exclaimed with a bright smile, nodding towards the clock which read 11:45.


"Hermione..." he murmured softly, a look of longing in his eyes. Something in him snapped them, and he found himself pulling her into a breathtaking hug; like a child who clings to his mother after he had been lost.


Hermione was confused, but she hugged him back none the less. Every time they touched it felt so right and so natural; it was almost as if they were made for each other. If she didn't know better, she would say she was falling in love with her ex- greasy git of a Potions Master. The revelation was shocking, and took the breath out of her. She pulled back from his embrace, quirking an eyebrow.


"My good Sir, what ever did I do to deserve that?" She inquired, wondering and hoping that he may be feeling the same as she.


"I was so worried. You didn't leave a note, and while I was walking home I sensed an overpowering amount of evil in the vicinity. I thought that maybe..." He trailed off and looked down at the floor. There was a mixture of emotions on his face, but he was too embaressed to face Hermione.


"Death Eaters?" She questioned, worry etching itself into her features. Blinking rapidly, Hermione thought of all the possible ways they could be found, and what would happen if they were. Swearing under her breath, Hermione hurried over to the rolltop desk in the corner of the living room and withdrew a peice of parchment and a pen. Scribbling a quick note to Dumbledore, she summoned Fawkes and tied it to the phoenix's leg.


"Hurry, Fawkes."


"Hermione?" Severus called after the ancient bird disappeared. The former Gryffindor looked up, amazed to see that Snape hadn't moved in all that time. She walked over to him, folding her arms over her chest.


"Yes?"


"I..."


"What is it, Severus? Do you know something? Do you know who the traitor is?" Hermione prompted, a look of hope shining in her eyes. Snape only shook his head, a strand of his silky, black hair falling out of the leather thong that tied the mop at the nape of his neck. Instinctively, Hermione reached out and tucked it behind his ear. "Severus?"


"I think I'm falling in love with you."



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Review! Since I've been having trouble, I could really use some inspiration. Where would you all like to see the story go? What would you like to happen? FEEDBACK! I NEED FEEDBACK!