"Snape is missing!" Ron hissed under his breath. He had just returned from the hospital wing after a spell had backfired on him burning his hand slightly. Professor Lupin had insisted he go have Madam Promfrey look at it before Ron could continue with the rest of the class.
"What?" Harry asked distractedly. He was trying to make sure Neville didn't pulverize him. Neville had suddenly grown up no longer shy but confident. Harry had to wonder if it was anything to do with Neville's parents. Maybe his grandmother let him know how important it was to stand and fight Voldemort.
"Snape, he's gone, Madame Promfrey says he snuck out in the early hours of the morning," Ron said anxiously.
"He has gone after Hermione I suspect," Harry said softly, giving Neville the signal to stop using him as a target.
"We better tell him too," he added watching Lupin walk in their direction.
Harry was not sure how he felt about it. What if Snape got Hermione killed? Something told him he needed to be there, he needed to find Hermione himself.
Lupin and Sirius were quite surprised and allured to Snape not being the bravest of men so they decided to search his office to see if there might be any clues. Harry listened closely whilst standing nearby and overheard them. Harry decided that it was his only opportunity to find out where Snape had gone.
Ron and Harry waited till Moody joined Sirius and Lupin, following them in the shadows and they headed down to the dungeon. On Snape's desk was a map and a pendent. Severus had merely used one of the oldest techniques to pinpoint Voldemort, but he had a good idea where the deatheater's were hiding to make things easier.
* * * * * * * * *
"Severus, how, oh I am so glad to see you," Hermione cried throwing her arms around his neck. He held her tight for a moment and then pushed her away slightly.
"Hermione we have to be quick, I have the apologies potion here, I transform into Lucius and I have some hair of that woman who just brought you in," Severus said hurriedly.
Hermione nodded and smiled. She understood what he was trying to say. Severus took out two small bottles opening one and adding the hair. He handed it to Hermione and waited for her to drink it. She did in one gulp, remembering how foul it was in her second year, when she accidentally got transformed into a cat.
He nodded when she had finished and took drank from his bottle. Slowly they both began to transform. Soon Severus had long white hair and Hermione was taller with short dark hair.
"I hope this works," Severus muttered under his breath as they headed for the door.
* * * * * * * * *
Harry waited until he was sure that Ron was asleep before grabbing his map and invisibility cloak. He hurried to the third floor where he waited for the statue to give way to slip under the school and over to Hogwart's. He could not believe that Voldemort was actually hiding in London. He could only hope that he could get Hermione and himself out of there safely.