Alrighty. This is a really short chapter, sorry. It didn't tack on to the last one and didn't work with the next one so I just left it by itself. Kinda puny, I know, but I'll post more in the morning to make up for it.

This chapter's super-quick review award would go to Lily except that she knew I was posting, so no dice. It thus gets passed to Joots, who was second in line. I appreciated your feedback. Hand3, good to see you as always. Just so you're not worried, Ginny does not die (never even entertained the thought of killing her), and the tension between Remus and Hermione kinda gets resolved and sort of doesn't. You'll see…

RubyMalfoy, so glad to see you once more! Thank you so much for reviewing on every chapter instead of doing one at the end. It was nice to get all those reviews!

Nenharmen, welcome to the show. Glad to hear you've been reading my stuff, thank you for reviewing.

Draccy, you're a sweetie! Ed, lovely to hear from you again. And Hippiechick…couldn't post another chapter without hearing from you!

Okay, two things. First, I know my author's notes are really long, but I'm so grateful for your reviews that I enjoy thanking you. Feel free to skip 'em, but they're not getting any shorter. Second, thank you to everyone who voiced an opinion on the story I've not yet posted. I think I've had more votes to change the relationship so I'm going back and re-reading what I've got to see if that's really as possible as I said it was J. I'll give you a little mini-summary in the next chapter, but for now, enjoy.

--Aimes

It was one a.m. and it didn't look like anyone was planning on sleeping. Hermione stretched out on the soft carpet and sipped at a gin and tonic whilst observing the room. They were sitting in a heretofore generally unused room—a huge living room with one wall entirely of windows looking out onto the backyard. The furniture in here was comfortable and well used and there was a fully stocked bar in the corner. So why haven't we been using this room for conferences? Probably because everyone would get raging drunk halfway through… She took another sip of her drink. Everyday I come one step closer to alcoholism. Hermione glanced at Snape who was four scotch-on-the-rocks in and completely silent. And it looks as though some of us have made it quite past that point. Glad he was able to get away and hold this completely pointless vigil with us. And what have we here? Callah going over to comfort Severus? Hope she knows what she's doing.

Callah apparently thought the better of it and went to speak to Remus instead, motioning him over to Snape. Snape looked up just in time for Callah to hug Remus and a stormy look passed over his face for a split second.

"What's going through your brilliant head, 'Mione?" Hermione glanced up and smiled welcomingly at Ron, who sat near her and took stock of the room as well.

"Not a whole lot, Ron. Thinking about alcoholism and near-death experiences."

"Yeah, I saw Callah's near miss too." Hermione started slightly and looked over at him appraisingly. "You'd have to be blind," he replied with a shrug. True.

"What are you thinking about on this momentous occasion?" she asked wryly.

"My Slytherin," he sighed.

"Did someone mention Blaise?" came Ginny's melancholy voice. She plopped down next to Ron and leaned against the wall.

"Nah, he was referring to Draco," replied Harry pensively as he settled himself on the other side of Hermione.

"Actually, he was referring to Millicent," Hermione snickered. "Unless you'd like to imply that Blaise and Draco are his. Mind you after the thong incident, Blaise is damaged enough. Implying he was Ron and Draco's sex toy might push him over the edge."

Ginny began laughing and before long, the entire group was shaking with mirth. The other occupants of the room looked over with something akin to incredulity. Their expressions only made the quartet laugh harder, naturally.

"Bloody hell I'm terrified," Ginny said through her laughter.

"Me too!" Ron chimed in. Their humour subsided instantly.

"Terrified doesn't even begin to cover what I am," Harry supplied tensely. Hermione shrugged.

"I think I've passed the point of fear into shell-shocked acceptance of whatever happens."

"Well this isn't supposed to be the final battle of the war, it's just to take back Hogwarts" Ron pitched helpfully.

"But it will be," Hermione replied heavily. "Everyone knows it ends here."

"I just wanted to tell you guys that I love you," Ginny said softly. "I don't say it nearly enough. You're all so important to me. Ron, you niffler big brother of mine. Harry, you brave hero. I worshipped you when I was younger, I still worship you. Hermione. The brains of the operation, definitely, but also the wit, humour, and grace. You're the sister I always wanted and the friend I've always needed." Tears stood in her eyes.

"As long as we're doing affirmations," Hermione replied. "You know you're my only family. You three and Snape are all I've got left in the world and I love you dearly for it. Ron's wicked chess skills, Harry's penchant for mischief, Ginny's ability to make a frog feel like a princess. Be safe for me. I can't handle losing anyone else." There was a moment of silence as Harry, Ron, and Ginny digested one of Hermione's few acknowledgments of her losses.

"I think, of any of us, you've suffered most in this war, 'Mione," Harry said quietly. "I mean, I lost my parents when I was a baby and I lost Sirius, but you…you had to run, knowing there was nothing you could do. When they kidnapped you, I nearly lost my mind with worry. We all did. For you to come out of that with your sanity intact was miraculous. No one ever told us what they did to you, but I can surely imagine."

Hermione's hands had wandered back to each other and she rubbed at the fingers on her right hand, a gesture that did not escape Harry's notice.

"If you really want to know…" she said faintly, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be to tell you."

Ron was the first to speak. "Yes," he stated simply.

Hermione was silent for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

"When I came to, I was hanging from the ceiling in a concrete room. Voldemort was there and so were Bellatrix and Dayrin Lestrange. Voldemort questioned me…I wasn't very responsive. No, let me correct that, I was a smart-ass. He slapped me so hard I almost blacked out again then left me to the tender ministrations of Bellatrix and Dayrin.

"The first two days or so were Bellatrix and her odd fondness for whips. And fire. The combination was pretty painful. She Crucio'd me several times, but I suspect Voldemort had told her not to damage my mind." Hermione was staring at nothing and the entire room was now listening, riveted.

"After that, Dayrin took over. Standard torture stuff, mostly, hexes, knives, fire, and the like. Every night, Snape would patch me up as best he could and every day, Dayrin would start again. Snape was my only window to the outside, and there were days when I survived only for the thought that he'd come for me later. I knew he'd get me out; I had utter faith in him." Snape's eyes closed briefly before resettling on her.

"Only a few incidents really stand out as being ridiculously terrible. They, ah, pulled my nails out. All of them. Individually." She shuddered and gripped her fingers. "I can honestly put that as the single most painful experience of my entire life. I can't imagine anything coming close to it. That night…I'm pretty sure I asked Severus to let me die. Gods, I wanted nothing more than to die. If I'm not mistaken, he flat out said no and it was never mentioned again." Snape had stiffened at the recollection. It was the first time this particular moment had ever been spoken of since that night.

"The other really painful day was…" her voice faded out for a moment. Ginny looked at Ron and Harry with concern. Concern that they should never have asked this, concern that perhaps Hermione shouldn't relive this. Hermione's voice came back, strong again. "The day or night…I really don't know…that Dayrin raped me. To say that hurt…would be beyond understatement. I'll spare you the details of that fun time…" she suddenly froze and looked at Snape. "What happened to it?" He looked confused for a moment.

"The pipe? What happened to it?" Ginny gagged and Ron looked incredibly green. Harry swore his heart stopped for a few moments as comprehension hit him. A pipe.

"I cast it out to sea," he replied softly. Hermione nodded to herself. I'd wondered. No one could look her quite in the eye except for Snape and Callah. Hermione gazed back at Callah and saw it flicker through her eyes. Understanding. She's been through it before…I suppose it makes sense. She's a spy, spies get captured occasionally. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

She didn't know what motivated her to rise and go to Snape, placing a cool gentle hand on his face. She heard herself speak suddenly. "Severus. If…" she didn't finish. He nodded.

"If I can, Hermione, I will."

"Thank you," she said gratefully as she walked back to her spot on the carpet and lowered herself gracefully.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked dangerously. Hermione found the courage to look at him directly. He deserves that much I think.

"If, somehow, I'm captured again tomorrow…I want Severus to promise…to promise…" C'mon Mya, inability to speak has never been one of your problems.

"She wants me to promise to kill her this time."

Harry's expression turned stormy, angry.

"No, Harry," Hermione said firmly. The rest of the group was trying to politely ignore the encounter whilst watching very closely. "I'd rather die than do it again."

"Then I guess we can't let you get captured," he replied determinedly. "It looks like we've got to win no matter what then."

"We'll win," Hermione said with a confidence she didn't feel. "But some will escape, undoubtedly. And if I happen to be in the clutches of one of those…" she let the statement go incomplete.

"You won't be," Ginny assured her, fire sparking in her eyes. "Not if I'm still breathing."

"Same here," Ron added fiercely. Next to Severus, Remus felt a pang of regret that he would not be there for her, to protect her. He banished the thought quickly and refocused on the group as Hermione spoke.

"Thanks guys," Hermione said softly, moved by their fierce loyalty. In three hours and fifty-two minutes, we're going to do the impossible. And we'd sure as hell better succeed.

She closed her eyes and tried to prepare for the inevitable.