Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, however the plot is my own which is becoming very difficult to be original. There is a lot of Harry fan fiction out there.
* * * * * *
Harry raced out of the Headmasters office and collided into Ron, who was standing waiting patiently outside for him.
Both boys jumped back surprised. Ron had a look of revenge on his face, but his expression quickly changed when he saw Harry's face. Harry explained what Dumbledore told him.
"That's rotten, Hermione has to spend time with Snape and you know who" said Ron when Harry finished. Harry nodded in agreement.
"We might not see Hermione for a long time, but I won't stop trying to find her," said Harry.
* * * * *
Time went on but no one came close to finding Voldemort's hideout. Harry and Ron had cornered Malfoy periodically but he knew nothing, he hadn't even heard from his father who was probably being held in the same place. Mr. Weasley told Ron that they had received a letter from Lucius Malfoy; it said that he was taking a sabbatical from the Ministry for at least six months. Sirius also wrote occasionally explaining that they were trying everything but it seemed Voldemort had put a stop to any kind of activity in his order. It was as though a time bomb was ticking, and Harry knew deep in his heart that one of these days, he would see Hermione again, whether she was evil or good.
It was nearly two month's since they had returned to Hogwarts and Dumbledore had placed extra protection around the castle to prevent anyone getting in or out without prior permission. Harry and Ron had noticed that Ginny acting strangely, more than ever. She was either alone a lot or with Neville. In fact she was not often seen in the Gryffindor common room in the evenings. Ron eventually decided that he needed to know what his little sister was up to. One night he persuaded Harry for them to take Harry invisibility cloak and the Marauder's map in hand. Harry could honestly not be bothered in going to find Ginny, but Ron was his best friend so he complied. They left the common room at ten when things began quieting down. The fat lady in the Portrait did not even ask them where they were off too. She was used to Harry and Ron sneaking off. Harry looked at the map carefully once they were downstairs. Ginny was headed out towards the lake. Harry did not see anyone else nearby, although Malfoy was just outside his common room too. Harry folded the map uneasily, wondering what Malfoy was up to and slipped it into his pocket. Ron threw the invisibility cloak around them both as they headed down the passage. A few minutes later they heard muttering only to find Peeves, wandering just ahead of them, talking to himself.
"Nobody takes me seriously!" he bawled. Ron looked at Harry quizzically. Peeves was never serious about anything so why would he care? Harry shrugged his shoulders, not sure what to think of the scene. Moments later Malfoy came rushing around the corner and almost ran right through Peeves.
"Well, well a student out of bed, where you going?" asked Peeves in a wretched voice.
Malfoy looked at annoyed.
"Get lost, Peeves or I will call the bloody baron," sneered Malfoy in return. But Peeves did not seem to care. He was usually petrified of the Baron but not tonight.
He continued to bob up and down in front Malfoy his arms folded across his chest. Harry and Ron tried their best not to burst out laughing at the scene. Malfoy tried to pass Peeves without having to go through the ghostly figure but Peeves kept blocking him.
Harry took out his map, and saw Professor McGonagall heading towards them.
When she arrived Peeves looked highly pleased with himself.
"Professor, I have caught a student out of bed!" he said triumphantly.
"Yes, I see that Peeves," McGonagall replied in her usual tone, looking Malfoy up and down. She then looked at Peeves rather baffled. Peeves took pleasure in catching students but first would have some fun with them, and if a teacher caught the student it was an added bonus.
"Mr. Malfoy, 20 points from Slytherin and detention tomorrow, understood?"
Draco nodded grimly. Peeves stood next to McGonagall watching her closely.
She dismissed Draco and watched him leave.
"Only 20 points, that one time she gave us 50 each," Ron whispered to Harry.
"Professor, I was wondering if you might, well have diner with me tomorrow?" Peeves said seizing the opportunity of having the Professor alone.
McGonagall nearly feel over with fright. She stood quietly for a moment trying to compose herself.
"No thank you Peeves, unfortunately that will be impossible," she responded without explanation of why. She then strode off before poor Peeves could say anything.
He left in quite a state yelling at the top of lungs for everyone to hear.
When he had gone Harry and Ron burst out laughing, Peeves had a crush on Professor McGonagall. The thought was ridiculous in Harry and Ron's minds and apparently in McGonagall's too. They hurried off towards the lake to find a red head girl in tears.
* * * * * *
"Again!" demanded Severus. Hermione was exhausted. She had been practicing sword fighting with Snape and Opruim. She spent most of the time with them. Opruim although loyal to Voldemort, was a caring man and Hermione had grown quite fond of him. She and Severus had discussed many times trying to encourage Opruim turn away from Voldemort. Hermione herself had swayed a couple of times, and with Severus's help had been able to fight it. Voldemort had his ways, threatening to kill Hogwart's students or even Harry, but she was always reminded that Dumbledore would never let that happen. Snape had insisted she call him Severus, as there was no point in keeping his distance from her. They only had each other and Snape knew that he had a grievous task on his hands. He was constantly by her side making sure that no harm came to her. Although the damage had already been done.
One day Hermione asked why she was not given a potion to remove the scars that covered her body. Severus explained that although Voldemort did not agree with what Lucius had done, he wanted Hermione to be reminded that he would always have control over her. Hermione had burst into tears when Severus had told her this, bringing them even closer, because he had tried to comfort her, something that was not in his nature.
Later that evening Hermione stretched out in the bath, in their meagre quarters. It was a small room with two beds, a curtain drawn between them. They shared a small on suite bathroom, where Hermione washed daily their robes alternating with the extra one they both had. Naturally they were black. Hermione also had a T-shirt of Severus to sleep in. He luckily still had the few things he had packed when he first set off to find Hermione. Severus was allowed into town once a week for supplies, but two death eaters disguised as ordinary wizards escorted him each time. Severus had tried to fool them, but they were rather sharp and never let him out of their sight and without his wand it was useless.
Hermione climbed out of the bath and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair had been cut short into a Paige boy style. Her body was lean from the training but from the neck down she was pale from never getting sunlight. The scars seemed to stand out even more. Some were rather mean looking, while others had healed better and not so obvious. Snape had tried to tell her they were not all that bad, but he was a lousy liar. She did not even look like the girl who had waved goodbye to her friends on the platform at the beginning of the holidays or the one who spent the summer in Europe. Hermione tried to force herself to smile, but like Severus it almost seemed to hurt when she tried. She sighed and wrapped a towel round her. She leaned over the bath to grab her nightshirt only to discover it was still damp.
'Damn' she thought. She crept into the bedroom hoping that Severus would not look up from his book but he did.
"Hermione, what can I get you from town tomorrow?" he inquired as he arched an eyebrow to her sneaking across the room in the towel. Hermione stopped in her tracks, wondering why she should even care what he thought.
"I could do with another shirt, in case my other one is not dry," she said pointing to the one hanging in the bathroom.
Severus nodded. He had gotten used to shopping for her, having to by her underwear on his first trip although Hermione had been somewhat disappointed with his choice.
"Anything else?" he asked amused. She shook her head no and quickly dashed to her side of the room.
She hated this life and hated herself, for reasons she was unsure of herself. She slipped into bed and pulled off the towel once she was covered.
"Decent?" Severus asked politely. He popped his head round the corner before coming to her beside.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" he asked quietly as he sat down on the bottom edge of the bed.
"As well as can be expected," was the reply. Severus searched her face but it showed nothing.
"I mean, you are not feeling depressed, dark perhaps?" he tried again. Hermione made a face.
"What do you mean?" she asked confused. Severus cleared his throat.
"I mean, Voldemort is not getting to you, in your mind, you are not thinking evil thoughts?"
"No, but now that you mention it, I happen to hate this place," she retorted.
"Well that comes with the territory," Severus said amused by the response.
"Are you going to try get a message through tomorrow again?" she asked suddenly sombre.
Severus nodded at this but put his bony index finger to his lips. He was sure they were watched for the most part and did not want to take a chance by giving Hermione details.
"Goodnight," Severus leaned over and patted her head. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I am not your pet!" she joked. A smile managed to creep onto her face. Severus forced his and got up and went to his side of the room. He was extremely worried about her.
Hermione was show signs of weakening to Voldemort's will. Many times he had to reassure her knowing that she was trying to fight it, but did not have the strength. He also knew that she missed her friends making it even harder. Severus sighed heavily in thought. He did not sleep much these days and knew that he was in for another restless night.
By the time Hermione got up in the morning, Severus had already left. She quickly dressed and went to knock on Opruim's door. He then escorted her to the kitchens where they had some toast for breakfast. Hermione was not allowed to wander around alone. The death eaters were mean and would take advantage if they found her alone. When they finished, Opruim led her outside into the courtyard where they resumed sword training. Hermione wished many a time that Severus or she had their wands, but only Opruim carried his. She had once tried to steal his, in an attempt to escape but Severus had stopped her with the excuse that it was not the right time.
She discovered she had the same opportunity today, but she dared not to without Severus around. Maybe if she could get to town then she could find him, get rid of his death eaters and they could escape. Town was Diagon Alley, because that's what the death eaters called it. Hermione knew if she made it to the kitchens she could floo to Diagon Alley, but she just had to get past Opruim. She decided that she had to do it.
Hermione waved her sword fiercely at Opruim, and fighting harder than she had ever done, until she backed him into a corner. Holding the sword to his throat she swiftly snatched the wand and slipped it into her robes without him noticing. She backed away from Opruim as he congratulated her refined abilities. They went over to the benches where Opruim sat down heavily, out of breath from the fighting. Hermione watched him closely feeling slightly sorry for him. If only she could trust him enough, she would ask him to come with her. She quickly let the thought go and pulled out the wand.
"Petrificus Totalus!" she ordered. Opruim fell back with a thud, and without a second glance dashed off to the kitchens. Racing down one of the passages she ducked behind a pillar occasionally to make sure no one was coming her way or after her for that matter. She made it to the kitchens, surprising the house elves. She ignored them, grabbed some floo powder and shouted "Diagon Alley!"
Moments later she opened her eyes to find herself in unusual store that seemed ironically to be a bookstore. Hermione recognised the owner from previous visits.
"Please help me!" she pleaded. After a quick explanation, Simon, the storekeeper gave her a blue robe with a hood from his daughter's room. Hermione thanked him and he promised to contact Dumbledore to meet her in the store in an hour. Simon watched Hermione leave hoping that she would make it back. His eldest daughter had been a Hogwart's student, and he and much respect for the school and Dumbledore. Hermione dashed out of the shop, slipping the hood on in order not to be recognised and ran down the alley trying to find Severus. Her search proved fruitless until she remembered that he was going to teach her potions the following day. Hermione ran down to the supplies store and peered through the window. She had only ten minutes before Dumbledore would arrive so she had to hurry. She saw Severus gathering ingredients with his two watchers nearby. She snuck in the store and hid behind a shelf. She needed a plan.
Muttering sorry under her breath she set some of the nearest ingredients alight then raced up behind Severus without the death eaters seeing her, she told him to duck. Suddenly the store burst into flames. The death eaters panicked and fled the shop. Severus confused tried to pull her to the front door before they got burnt but through the smoke she managed to tell him to use the back door. The shop owner was trying to save anything in sight didn't seem to see them push past and out the back.
"Hermione what are you doing here, how?" Severus yelled in confusion and she grabbed his hand and began to run up the back path.
"Not now, we have to hurry!" she yelled back above the commotion. Hermione caught a glimpse of the death eaters who were now looking for Snape. They raced up the main alley after entering the back door of the Quidditch store and out the front entrance. Instantly she heard plopping noises. Other death eaters had been called to help. Severus was now leading the way to the bookstore, after Hermione told him they had to go there. Just as they entered the store she was hit by a spell. She yelled in agony, as the Cruciatus spell took effect. She started to stumble but Severus swept her into his arms and raced to waiting Headmaster who opened the port key, taking them safely back to Hogwarts.