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Chapter # 32

"There it is." Severus whispered, pointing at the tall, shriveled tree. "Come on." He grabbed James' wrist and pulled him along.

"That's Voldemorts' lair?" James asked doubtfully.

"Yup. Come on, just touch the tree." Severus instructed softly. James touched the tree with his index finger and waited uneasily. Severus placed his palm on the tree and muttered,

"Eternos sperazaz diffusoz." James gasped softly as he and Severus tumbled down into the dark hole that formed at Severus' command. They landed with a soft thud on the soft, sandy ground, and James let out a muffled "oomph" as he landed on his rear end. Severus snickered down at him.

"You coulda said something." James muttered, then stood up and peered around. "Where are we, exactly?"

"These tunnels lead to Voldemorts' place. Some tunnels go in circles. They're marked, you see, so only the death eaters and Voldemort can get through. That's why I had to come with you." Severus answered, bending down and studying the side of a tunnel to their right.

"Well, I don't think we'll be able to just march right in there and get Hermione without getting caught." James answered doubtfully.

"No, but I do want to cause as little ruckus as possible. I mean, don't go running down the tunnels calling her name." Severus muttered, striding down the tunnel he had been carefully examining.

"Of course." James replied smoothly, and he followed Severus in silence.

They walked for what seemed like hours, turning left, right, left, and doubling back after Severus made a mistake. Finally, James grabbed his wrist and glared at the death eater spy.

"Are you sure you know where we're going? Hermione could be dead already, I don't wanna lose her, Severus."

"I know." Severus looked away. "I can't concentrate, James. I can't think. I. my mind is so foggy." His sharp, keen wit was gone, James noticed.

"It's Voldemort." He said softly. "Voldemort cast a spell on this place. I mean, you look ill, Severus. Voldemort must know we're here." James gently rubbed Severus' shoulder. "You have to think. Where would they keep Hermione?"

"I don't. maybe, well.. They might have put her in the death eaters' room. Or maybe Voldemorts' room. Or they might have put her right with the other prisoners. James, it's hard to say." Severus answered, closing his eyes in frustration.

"Well, let's check the death eater room first." James decided, and they turned left. After five kilometers they turned right again, and James noticed an opening that led to a slightly brighter room. Voices could be heard, whispering and chattering amongst themselves.

"There's some in there. I'll just check quickly, then we'll leave, alright?" Severus asked.

"Alright. Yeah, sure. Do you want me to check?"

No." Severus answered stubbornly. "You have to save Hermione. Don't get caught, alright?"

"You better not either. I'm not leaving here without you following on both legs." James answered just as stubbornly as Severus had. Severus nodded and flattened himself against the wall, inching slowly towards the opening. James slid slowly into a crack in the tunnel wall, sucking his stomach in and peering out at Severus.

Severus creeped slowly forward, peering into the large cavern. Several death eaters were chatting nonchalantly at a round table, others were having heated conversations about what their master would plan next in his little game.

No sign of Hermione. He looked away, then glanced back, and reality struck it's foot cruelly in his stomach. No Lucius either.

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"Lucius has her. I'm sure of it. He should be in there but he isn't. James, I know where she is." Severus whispered in a near silent voice. "She's with the other prisoners."

"What did he do to her?" James asked, dreading the answer he would be given.

"Lucius is not kind to his prisoners. Raped her, slapped her around, I think. Nothing too bad, just really painful." Severus replied, laying a comforting hand on James' shoulder. James shifted uneasily, then sighed.

"Let's go save her." He mumbled. "Lead the way." Severus nodded and they doubled back, then turned right instead of left.
They entered another large cavern, this one filled with what looked to James like bones.

"Are those. human bones?" he asked Severus, who nodded.

"Voldemort put the prisoners' bodies in this room." He muttered.

"Well, then I'm guessing Hermione is still alive." James replied. "Because she isn't in here."

End of chapter.

A/N - Heh, heh, heh. Sorry for the short chapter, but it's a pretty good ending, I think.