Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, just the plot.
Hermione winced with pain as she attempted to sit up from the cold slab of concrete. Her body was throbbing all over. The room was black except for the light shinning through from under the door. Hermione had no idea where she was, or how long she had been there. Surprised she was not tied up; Hermione slipped off the concrete onto the floor, but could move no further. She was enclosed in a bubble. Gradually she stood up and ran her hands over her naked body. With each touch there was pain. Hermione could tell that she had been whipped on her back and buttocks, not to mention the back of her thighs. There were blisters on her chest and stomach from burns. It was when she realized that she had been raped as the memories flooded to her senses. They had tortured her for hours, unconventional muggle ways, trying to find where Harry hid during the summers. Naturally Hermione did not tell them anything. The death eaters were enraged but it was not them she feared. She had yet to see any sign of Voldemort. This in itself made her worry even more. Her only chance at survival was to avoid this. She knew Voldemort would thing nothing of killing her. Hermione recalled that there had been one death eater that had not taken part in any of the torturing or rapes. She wondered if it might have been Snape. She was sure after last year that he was a death eater, even though it was not said in so many words. Maybe he did not have the power to stop them, but at least he could tell Dumbledore where she was. She had also not seen Lucius Malfoy; well she was not sure of this, as they were all cloaked.
Hermione sat on the cold floor, the tears swimming in her eyes. Her thoughts fell onto her family. They had just returned from Europe where they had been most of the summer staying with some muggle friends. Hermione had enjoyed herself but missed Harry and Ron terribly as she had been unable to send owl's from where she was. She had then begged her parents to go to Diagon Alley a week before school started, as they were at a nearby Dentist Conference in the London. Hermione also wanted to surprise her two best friends when they came to buy their school supplies. It was the second day of their week there, that Hermione had seen Lucius Malfoy in one of the stores in the lower part of Diagon Alley where she had been exploring a small bookstore. She had hastily ducked into a nearby stand, hoping that he would not see her. But he must have, or they would have not come for her that same night. She had woken up to find herself surrounded by death eaters and had let out a piercing scream. Her father and mother rushed in from the adjoining room when the death eaters attacked them. Hermione had reached for her wand that was hidden under her pillow and jumped out of bed. Before she could prevent it, she was knocked unconscious when one of the death eaters shouted stupefy, her wand falling from her hand.
Hermione shivered at the recollection; she did not know if her parents were even alive. All she knew is that she was cold, hungry and she began to believe that there was little hope of someone coming to her rescue. She feared if Harry tried to save her, that he would be killed. The only wizards that could save her now were Dumbledore and Snape, the later she was not even sure of.
* * * * * * *
"So, what you are saying is that you know nothing?" snarled Snape.
Draco shook his head confused. He knew his father was a death eater but he often did not know what he was up too. Besides Snape should know as he was a death eater himself.
"I don't know anything Professor!" Malfoy protested. Snape finally released his ear.
"Very well, dismissed," Snape muttered. He turned and left the room swiftly. He was on his way to see Dumbledore.
Draco rubbed his painful ear and hurried to his first class, only to run straight into two Gryffindor's.
"Potter and Weasley, move out of my way!" he demanded. But neither did.
"Where is Hermione, Malfoy?" Ron shouted waving his wand in Draco's face.
"Not again!" Draco said rolling his eyes. Harry and Ron looked at each other astonished.
"Who has been asking you?" said Harry still somewhat surprised.
"If you must know, Snape," said Malfoy bitterly, rubbing his burning ear again. Harry looked at Draco for a moment.
"You are going to help us find Hermione, Malfoy!" he said in a level voice. Ron gasped.
"Why would I want to help you find that Mudblood?"
"Because if you don't, I will make sure that the Gryffindor's Quidditch team beats the crap out at the next game!" threatened Harry. Draco was a little worried about this, but unsure if the threat was real.
"And I will put a horrible spell on you," added Ron his voice quivering.
"I still don't see why I should help you, but I will ask my father if he knows anything," said Draco coyly thinking his father would be pleased if he led Harry Potter straight to Voldemort.
Harry nodded and let Malfoy past.
"That was easy," said Ron slightly baffled.
"Yes, a little too easy," agreed Harry. "We will have to watch our backs, but right now we are going to be late and McGonagall will turn us into something terrible!"
They ran down the passage laughing.
* * * * * * *
"Albus, I must request leave from Hogwarts immediately!" Snape demanded.
Dumbledore looked up at him, not surprised at Severus tone of voice.
"You want to go find the Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked mildly.
Snape merely nodded.
"I think that can be arranged, but do you have any idea where she is?"
"No, I don't, but I have ways of finding out, if Voldemort gets hold of her, all of us will be doomed," he replied coldly.
Dumbledore nodded knowingly.
"Very well!"
Dumbledore was about to leave for the Ministry of Magic, to try persuade Fudge that Voldemort had risen again and to see what else could be done and perhaps even have Auror help try find Hermione. Dumbledore however had a lot of faith in Severus in finding Hermione.
* * * * * * *
Snape raced to his chambers to gather a few things. Dumbledore had given him a port key to the Leaky Cauldron and from there he would make his own way. He had spent evening before preparing some potions that might come in handy to help him to find out where the girl was. He just hoped he would make it in time. He was about to use the Port key when there was a knock on the door.
'It is lunchtime, why would someone be bothering me?' he thought to himself as he reached the door handle.
Snape quickly opened it to find Harry and Ron.
"Yes, Potter and Weasley, what do you want?" he snapped.
"Professor, we have asked Draco Malfoy to find out from his father where Hermione might be, and Professor Dumbledore just told me that you were going to look for her," said Harry quietly. He looked at Ron who stood looking slightly dazed. Snape glared at him for a moment.
"You can owl me at the Leaky Cauldron if you find out anything, but you are not to leave the safety of Hogwarts, do you understand me, Potter?" Snape responded. Both boys nodded but Snape knew they would not take his warning seriously so he attempted to reassure them although this was not in his nature.
"I will find Miss Granger and bring her safely back to Hogwart's, you need not worry about it," With that he closed his door and left.
Harry and Ron were unconvinced.
"We need a plan, Ron," said Harry, as they hurried out of the dungeons.
"But you heard what Snape said!" Ron shuddered to think what they might in counter. He had been through a lot since meeting Harry, but he was beginning to understand that Hermione was in peril. Ron was scared, but he would stick with Harry till the end. He just didn't want to do anything unnecessary.
Harry understood this and judging by the expression on Ron's face, he knew Ron needed some encouragement.
"Come on Ron, this Hermione, we have to do what can!" he said in a positive tone. Ron sighed.
"What's the plan?" watching Harry's eyes start to glow with excitement.