Eyes of green and eyes of blue followed Severus' to the Slytherin table. "It would seem Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, and Mr. Goyle are also missing from the meal," the Headmaster noted quietly.

"I'll kill the little son-of-a-bitch." Harry started in the direction of the Slytherin table, wand clenched furiously in his hand, clearly ready to hex anyone who got in his way. Before he could reach his destination, he found himself grasped harshly, wedged between the bodies of the Headmaster and the Potions Master, and ushered quickly out of the Great Hall. They dragged him, all but kicking and screaming, into the first empty classroom.

Once inside, Snape turned on him furiously. "Are you daft, boy? What do you think you were doing?"

"I was finding out where Hermione is; someone has to know something."

"And you thought you would just rush into their midst and force it out of them. You imbecile, these are Slytherins. You are Gryffindor. You would have accomplished nothing and possibly put Miss Granger in even more danger than she probably is in already."

Albus stood quietly in the corner of the room, eyes closed, and mouth moving quickly in almost imperceptible tones. Severus and Harry watched until the old wizard opened his eyes and shook his head sadly. "If she is still on the castle grounds, she is being protected by very powerful magic. I seriously doubt her own magic could repel my location spells." Albus took a deep breath and pulled himself up, much like a general. "So, we search for her the old-fashioned way."

"Severus, I will return to the Great Hall and direct the other houses to their common rooms. Interrogate your Slytherins and find out if anyone, indeed, knows anything. I will speak to the rest of the staff and have them begin a floor-by-floor search of the castle. Harry, you will go directly to my office and remain there until we return."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but took one look at the men in the room and knew it was in vain. He paused at the doorway and turned round on Severus. "I swear, I'll kill them if they've hurt her. She's all I have left."

"Sorry, boy, you'll have to stand in line." Black eyes glittered dangerously and Harry could see in them something he had never seen before; fear. He didn't have time to ponder it as Snape swept past him and down the hallway.

In the Great Hall, the houses were quickly dispatched to their common rooms. Snape was waiting when the group of Slytherins entered. "You will all sit down, now." He was met with curious glances, but the room quickly quieted as all found a seat and waited.

"Now, then, it appears there were several students absent from this evening's meal. Several members of your house and one Gryffindor have gone missing. I am not making any assumptions or accusations. I am going to my office, where I will call each one of you, one at a time. Upon the conclusion of your 'meeting' with me you are to return to your house and remain there until a member of the staff returns. Understood?" A mass of nodding heads met his appraisal.

Severus sat in his office, while child after child filed in and filed out. Their head of house questioned each one quickly and efficiently. They were true Slytherins, protecting their own, as each one proclaimed to have no knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing students. No interrogation or threats were effective and no leads turned up. Either no one knew anything, or they were being very, very careful.

Severus was furious and frustrated as he left his office and quickly flew up the passageway. So lost in thought about Hermione, he literally tripped over the small, First Year Slytherin, hiding in the shadows at the foot of the dungeon stairs. "Mr. Merrick, you were told to return to your dorms. That will be 20 points from Slytherin for disobeying your head of….."

"Wait, Professor Snape, sir." The young boy was almost shaking in the face of Severus' fury. Still, he spoke up, "I heard something, sir. Some of the older students, they were talking in the common room when I returned. I couldn't hear everything, but they were talking about a mudblood and a chamber. That's all I heard, Professor. I thought you should know."

Severus had backed the Merrick boy up against the stone wall as he rattled out his information. Now, he towered over the boy. After a glance over his shoulder, he spoke in a low, hushed tone, "Who were these students you overheard?'

The young Slytherin did not flinch now, even in the face of the former Deatheater, "I'm sorry sir, I don't know their names."

"I don't suppose that you could identify them by looks, either," Severus asked with a knowing smirk.

"No, sir, I don't suppose that I could." The child struggled to get his point across, while still upholding a sense of honor to his house. "The Gryffindors aren't all bad, sir. That muggle-born, Hermione, she was always nice to me. She even helped me once with my Charms work. And Potter, a parselmouth in Gryffindor. When I found that out, Sir, I was quite surprised. He must have had quite an adventure in his second year. I wonder if he could open the chamber again, if it was needed?"

Severus nodded his head in understanding and with a flourish of black, moved away from the student. "Very well, Mr. Merrick. Return to your common room at once."

The boy took off at a run down the dark, stone corridor. He skidded to a stop and turned at the commanding voice. "Oh, and Mr. Merrick."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Well done." Severus allowed the boy a rare smile before turning to take the steps two at a time.

He entered Albus' office to find the Headmaster waiting and Harry pacing the floor impatiently.

Severus wasted not one second. "They've taken her to the Chamber of Secrets."

The weight of his words dropped almost audibly. Albus had ordered the chamber sealed following Harry's second year. Together, the staff had focused their magic and warded the entrance.

"That's impossible." Harry's voice was quiet and strained now, and his face had gone a ghastly gray color.

The headmaster's face was drained of color as well. "Normally, I would agree with you, Harry. Severus, where did you get this information?"

Severus gave a half smile and shook his head. The boy had taken risks in coming to him and he would protect him. "I believe the source to be accurate," was the only explanation.

Harry dropped heavily into a chair. He was speaking quietly, almost to himself. "Impossible. Malfoy couldn't break the wards on the entrance. We tried; Hermione, Ron, and I, we tried and they held."

Albus' eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean you tried?" The Headmaster's face was a furious red now. "Did you return to the Chamber after it was sealed? Harry, what were you thinking?"

Frightened eyes look through round-rimmed glasses. "We didn't return. We couldn't. We just wanted to make sure it was sealed once and for all."

Severus was on Harry in a flash, dragging him up by his collar. Harry's feet dangled several inches off the floor and he could feel the hot breath of the Potions Master in his face. "You complete idiot. You may not have broken the wards, but you may have weakened them. Always playing with things you don't understand. If she dies, I swear I'll…."

"Put him down, Snape." A commanding voice floated through the Headmaster's office. Harry's feet hit the floor hard and he stumbled around, gaping, trying to see the source.

A shimmering light appeared in the center of the room. Slowly, it took on a human shape and as the mists whirled, the figure of a wizard appeared.

Albus chuckled. "Harry, I would like you to meet Salazar Slytherin. Sal, this is Harry Potter."

Sal very rarely allowed himself to be seen. The sight of him was imposing to say the least. He towered over Severus by several inches. Long, black hair and beard covered a long, thin face. Flowing robes of dark green moved as the spirit floated across the room, coming to a stop in front of the trembling young wizard. "I know who he is. I've been watching him run roughshod over this castle for the last seven years. Bending the rules, and sneaking around." Sal's face suddenly broke out into a grin. "Reminded me quite a bit of myself, actually." Harry turned up his lip in disgust at the observation.

With a deep, baritone laugh, the spirit of the House of Slytherin turned and faced the Headmaster. "The boy did not weaken your wards, Albus. There is another entrance to the chamber. Godric, the insufferable prat, was always watching the comings and goings down there. So, I created a second entrance, from the back, to sneak in my 'entertainment'."

It was Severus' turn to drop into a chair. "Oh, Sal," he groaned, "Why didn't you tell anyone? We needed that Chamber sealed."

"No one knew of it but me. I still like to go down there from time to time and reminisce. I never imagined anyone would find their way in there. They have though. This evening, that silver haired demon and his imbecile cohorts came down there lugging a bag between them. Imagine my surprise when they opened the top and a very naked little Gryffindor lioness was dumped out."

Severus was fairly furious at this report. "What the bloody hell are you doing here, Sal? You just left her there? Left her there with those animals?"

"Might I remind you, Severus, that those animals have been under your guidance for the last six and a half years or so? What was I to do? It's not something that we ghosts advertise in abundance, but our magic is very limited when it comes to dealing with mortals. I'm afraid I could do little more than come for help. I'm sorry."

"Oh, so then this is my fault. I should have guided them away from the darkness that their own parents were feeding them. I should have reformed them and kept them honorable. Let's not forget that I should paved their road to glory, made sure they followed the straight and narrow, and polished their halos myself while keeping up the appearance of being Voldemort's lap dog. Oh, yes…."

Harry couldn't keep quiet at Severus' little tirade. "Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Well, I don't think anyone twisted your arm convincing you to take that mark. You put yourself in that position, Snape. As for you, you miserable excuse for a spirit, are you daft? How could you keep that chamber entrance a secret? Speaking of the chamber, I have a bone to pick with you about a certain basilisk…."

"Oh, don't start about that fucking basilisk." Salazar was spoiling for a fight. "I'll have you know I didn't put…"

"Yeah, the basilisk. You know that creature that almost mmmmmpppppppfffffffffffffff………………"

Snape slapped a hand over Harry's mouth. "You stay out of this, you little brat. This is between Sal and I. You have…"

"Enough!" Albus roared, furious at the childish display of the wizards in front of him. "If you three are finished with your temper tantrum, I believe there are more important things which need to be addressed. A certain seventh year female thing to be precise." Three properly chastised faces turned to him. "Now, Salazar, would you be so kind as to take us to the second chamber entrance?"

They made their way quickly through the empty hallways. Salazar led them down into the dungeon and up to the door of the Potions classroom. Once inside, he floated up to the fireplace and spoke the word, "Fellatio". Salazar shrugged away the shocked looks. "I had to use something that would never be spoken of in this room." The fireplace slid smoothly to one side, revealing a dark passageway.

Harry eyed the ghost suspiciously. "Then how did Draco figure out the password? Obviously he had to…" He trailed off at the raised eyebrow of the Potions Master. "Oh, nevermind, I don't even want to imagine what the Slytherins do in here after hours."

"I assure you, Mr. Potter, that if the Slytherins, or any other students for that matter, are having illicit meetings in this room, it is completely without my knowledge. I do have to sleep sometime."

Harry opened his mouth and quickly snapped it back shut at a warning look from the Headmaster. Nonetheless they all heard him mumble something to the effect of "I thought bats were awake feeding all night," as they stepped into the dark corridor behind the fireplace. Choosing to ignore Harry, Severus fell in first behind the floating figure of Salazar Slytherin. Their illuminated wands shone on the path that twisted and turned through the bowels of the castle, ever sloping downward. The air steadily became cooler and soon they were trudging through several inches of water. Albus whispered a silencing spell and the sound of their splashing footsteps was instantly quieted.

They came up to a bend in the passage and at Sal's whispered command they put out the light of their wands. They rounded the bend in the passageway and surveyed the chamber from a shadowy corner.

Snape took a step, wand raised and ready for battle, only to be halted by Harry's hand on his arm. Harry shook his head and indicated with his hands that he would move off to the other side of the chamber. At Severus' nod of acceptance, the young wizard cast an invisibility spell and disappeared from sight. More gesturing between the Headmaster and Severus and the Potions Master was on his way to the front, similarly cloaked against detection. This gave him a front and center view of the scene before him.

Hermione levitated about three feet off the floor of the chamber, surrounded by Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy. She was naked, bound, gagged and lay on her back. She was quiet, but her eyes darted around frantically. Several bruises were beginning to darken her face and blood ran from her nose, down her cheek, and dripped to the floor below her. Severus struggled to detach himself from the sheer emotional fury that was running through him. He could do her no good if he rushed in in a vengeful rage. He tightened his grip on his wand and waited.

Malfoy was speaking in Latin and Severus recognized ancient purification spells. The blond passed his wand slowly over Hermione's body and then moved to each of the other two Slytherins. Finally, he purified himself. Draco jumped as the figure of Salazar Slytherin shimmered into view. Quickly, he pulled out a silver blade and held it to Hermione's throat.

"Wait, boy," Salazar spoke commandingly, "What are you playing with in my chamber?"

Draco eyed the spirit suspiciously and as recognition lit his eyes, a proud and malicious smile broke. "Salazar Slytherin." The knife remained poised a hair's breadth from the witch's jugular. "Oh, this is an honor, sir. The ceremony will be that much more perfect with the Founder present."

"What ceremony is that? Explain your presence in my domain."

"Tonight, sir, the darkness reawakens and soon we will pave the road to domination once again."

"So, this road begins with the bullying of an innocent witch?"

"A mudblood, sir. She is a mudblood. Surely she is not innocent. They continue to pollute our race and they must be eradicated. Her life is the first of many to fall. You will be a witness and you will be proud."

Salazar was becoming agitated with Malfoy's erroneous assumptions. "Boy, I know what you have been taught about me. I assure you the rumors of my prejudice have been greatly exaggerated. The muggle-born witches and wizards are entitled to the same rights as the purebloods. Now, as your founder, I order you to release her and remove yourself from my presence."

The knife began to tremble as the blue eyes darkened with anger. "Well, it would seem that Slytherin is a fraud. No matter, then. A lot of research and preparation went into this ceremony, a lot of research into the spirit realm. You have no power over us, so just stand back and watch as she becomes fodder for the Dark One. Do not interfere; be quiet and observe. I have learned the banishment spells in my studies. It will be an easy enough job to end your travels on this plane, this plane and any other. You will just cease to be."

Salazar dropped his head, defeated, and moved to the side.

The air began to swell with magic as Draco began to move his wand over Hermione's body once again. The knife remained in place, perilously close to her throat.

Malfoy called out to the darkness, and the magic crackling through the air was Dark Magic. He called to the spirit of his master, and the winds of magic began to swirl in the center of the chamber. It was visible now, glittering with power, crackling with energy, a vortex of darkness.

"Nos offerre spiritus servi dare libenter." **

Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward toward the swirling tornado of evil power. Crabbe produced another silver blade, handed it to his friend, and nodded his head. Turning, he knelt with his back to Goyle. "Ego relinquo meus animo. Id sum illud quod definire meus, confirmare
meus, et concedere vesci."** Swiftly, Goyle wrenched Crabbe's head back and brought the knife neatly across his throat. The cut was deep, and blood poured, pulsing, from the gash.

Every beat of Crabbe's failing heart pumped out a spurt of blood. With every pulse, the mass of magic began to take a shape. As the beat slowed, the coalescing magic took on a somewhat human form. As the dying wizard's heart took its last beat, there was a bright flash of light and the calling forth of the spirit was complete. The spirit of Voldemort floated in the center of the room. Serpentine eyes blazed a bright red as he spoke. "Well done, Draco. Finish it now."

Draco was grinning proudly, basking in his Dark Lord's glory. Goyle dropped the body of his schoolmate on the ground unceremoniously and moved to join Draco. The silvery-blue eyes closed and he began to concentrate once more.

"Ligare hic spiritus vita impurus. Sua viti captus ab vis."** Voldemort moved to Draco's side and place his hand on the breast of the terrified witch.

Severus' heart almost stopped in his chest. They were going to give Voldemort his life back, using Hermione as a catalyst for a living form. Before he could move, Salazar whipped into action. With a swoop, he crashed through Draco's body. The force of the ghost tearing through his body startled the young wizard and the knife clattered to the ground.

From the back of the chamber a voice cried out, "Stupefy." From the side, one answered, "Petrificus totalus." Draco and Goyle dropped to the floor. The spell was broken and the magic began to fail. Before anyone could move further, the spirit of Voldemort gave a pitiful cry of "NO!" and began to fade from sight.

The levitation spell faltered with the binding of Draco Malfoy. Before Hermione could crash to the ground, Severus reinforced the spell with his own wand and ran up the aisle to her. Harry was at her side, untying her restraints as Severus removed the gag. Harry tried to pull Hermione to him, but she became feral in her struggles. She threw herself into the arms of the Potions Master. Harry looked first at Hermione, wrapped securely in Severus' arms and then to the face of the man that held her. Dark eyes were closed, but a small bit of wetness was at their corners. Without another thought to the others in the chamber, Severus sank to the floor and cradled Hermione in his lap.

She was sobbing openly now, her face buried in the folds of his robe. Harry conjured up a blanket, and covered her nakedness with it. Black eyes opened and met green as Severus inclined his head in thanks, before turning his attention, once again, to the woman he held. Soothing words of comfort fell from his lips as he rocked her. She was shaking hysterically and clinging to him desperately.

Harry moved away from them, and turned on the frozen figures of the Slytherins. His wand was tucked into his sleeve and he began his assault, physically, on Draco. Several well-placed kicks had a stream of blood pouring from the blond wizard's frozen mouth before the Headmaster could intercede. Albus stepped between Harry and Draco. "He is powerless now, Harry."

"Then release him, so I can beat the living hell out of him. I'll kill you, Malfoy, I'll kill you." Harry was trembling with the effort of containing himself.

"You will do no such thing. These two will be moved up to the castle and the ministry will deal with them. You will only find yourself in Azkaban sharing a cell with them if you continue. Now, move away before I am forced to bind you as well."

Harry walked to the far end of the chamber. Salazar moved with him, speaking quietly as the young wizard paced the floor.

Hermione had calmed down a bit and Severus had succeeded in wrapping her up in the blanket. He stood now, holding her in his arms. With a nod from the Headmaster, he moved swiftly to the back of the chamber and toward the passage to the potions classroom.

He ran through the castle corridors, pausing long enough to tell a flustered Minerva McGonagall where Albus and Harry were. Minerva looked curiously at the girl Severus cradled with so much care. Hermione clung to him, resting her blood-crusted cheek against the wool of his robes. Her eyes were closed, and she looked somewhat at peace in the arms of the Potions Master. Minerva filed away any questions for a later time and ran off to call the staff and disembark for the Chamber of Secrets.

In the infirmary, the sound of the door being kicked open, almost off its hinges, brought Poppy scurrying out of her office. One look at the bundle in Severus' arms and she sprang into action.

"Lay her down here, Severus, and get my bag from my desk."

Hermione was placed gently on the bed but began to whimper as Severus tried to free himself from her clinging fingers. "Hermione, love, I'm not going anywhere now. Lie back and let Poppy tend to you."

"No, no, no, no. I can't… you can't…. Don't let me go." Her head was thrashing wildly from side to side. Severus struggled to hold her still in the bed, but she crawled wildly back into his arms. She cried out, a stream of incoherent pleas. Finally, he gave up on her lying still and sat, instead, on the bed, holding her once again.

Poppy took in the sight and nodded once. She ran to her office, only to return after a moment with her bag and a vial. The vial was thrust into Severus' hand and Poppy indicated that he get her to drink it. Poppy set her bag down and began rummaging through it.

Severus' long fingers uncorked the vial deftly, in one hand. "Drink this, Hermione." The girl began to struggle again, shaking her head and trying to push away the glass held against her lips. Severus freed his other hand and swept the tangled curls away from her face. He pinched her cheeks roughly, "Look at me, Hermione. Look at ME!" His voice was angry and intimidating. Her eyes opened and she locked eyes with Severus. When he had her attention, he spoke more gently. "Trust me. You're safe. You're in the infirmary. Now, drink this, please."

Hermione nodded slowly and opened her mouth. She grimaced as she swallowed, but drank the entire contents of the vial in one gulp. The vial was dropped to the floor and Poppy gave Severus a dirty look at the tinkle of breaking glass. Severus ignored her and wrapped Hermione securely in his arms once again. He could feel her body relaxing against him, the potion doing its work. When her breathing evened out, he stood, turned and laid her down on the bed once again. This time, she didn't fight, and just watched him with mournful eyes.

Severus bent over her, and spoke with his mouth close to her ear. "I have to go help them move Malfoy and Goyle above ground." Her mews of protest were weak now. "Now, now, the chamber must be sealed for good this time. I will return. Let Poppy tend to your wounds." He smoothed her wet, sweaty hair off of her forehead and placed a gentle kiss in its place. "I will be back," he murmured against her flesh. Finally, she nodded and Severus straightened up.

Severus turned to the Mediwitch and his dark eyes dared her to question him. Poppy's eyes moved between Hermione and Severus several times, considering. Finally, her mouth stiffened into a sharp line and she swept past the wizard, her attention on her injured patient.

He paused long enough at the doorway to turn and look one last time at the small figure lying in the bed. He took in the bruises and the blood and felt his temper flare once again. Harry had the right idea when he attacked Malfoy. Albus had been able to stop Harry, but he sincerely doubted the Headmaster would have been able to stop him from killing the boy. It was lucky for Malfoy that he had been so preoccupied with Hermione. It was lucky she had needed him. The thought brought a sad smile to his face. He turned and made his way back to the bowels of the castle, whispering words of thanks, to whatever Gods were listening, for her life.

**Translation

"Nos offerre spiritus servi dare libenter."

We offer the spirit of a servant willingly given.


"Ego relinquo meus animo. Id sum illud quod definire meus, confirmare
meus, et concedere vesci."

I surrender my soul. It is that which defines me, empowers me, and
allows me to live.



"Ligare hic spiritus vita impurus. Sua viti captus ab vis."

Bind this spirit to the life of the impure. Hers is a life taken by
force.

Many, many thanks go out to Krystina for her hard work doing the Latin for this chapter. Big **hugs** to her!!!!! And big hugs, and a multitude of thanks, as well, to my beta for this tale, Chrisiant