Chapter 3 – Death Eater Jr.

Severus need not be a genius to find out what happened. He had caught the words 'Death-Eater' and reacted immediately. He levitated Hermione to the nearest couch and locked the door to his office, also adding extra protections.

He swept down the hall and made his way back to the library. He wasn't surprised when he saw a group of Death Eaters grabbing a portkey and apparated away. It wasn't hard to discern those figures. The blond was certainly Lucius Malfoy and his usual gang of Nott, Avery, Rookwood and Goyle.

How come he wasn't informed of a Hogwarts raid, he thought. Well, he needed to go to Dumbledore to report the incident. He only hoped he wasn't too late. How or why Granger was involved he didn't know.

Just as he turned, he saw Potter and Weasley running with wands in hand, ready to attack. He wasn't in the mood to deal with those two now. Time was precious. He ignored them and turned towards Dumbledore's office. To his surprise, Potter had the cheek to stop him.

"Get out of my way, Potter." He hissed.

"Death-Eaters there. Attacked Hermione. Need to go and see headmaster."

"Very well, follow me." Without another word, they made their way to Dumbledore's office.

OOOOO

Hermione woke up, only to find herself in a couch. She had no idea where she was. Everything was foggy. She remembers vaguely that Malfoy had cut a lock of her hair. She retaliated with a punch while another Death Eater she did not recognize sent a Stunner, which she dodged. They had also taken Crookshanks.

She was too tired to think straight when the door opened and Dumbledore entered. He looked grave. Hermione tried to sit up but was pushed down again by a worried Snape.

"Miss Granger, do you mind telling us what happened?" Dumbledore asked while Harry and Ron burst into the room.

She told them all about her hair and Crookshanks. Crookshanks. What were they going to do with her cat?

Dumbledore surveyed her and finally nodded. "I think you need to go to the hospital wing. Harry and Ron, please go back to the dormitory. I need both of you to do me a favour and make sure that nobody from Gryffindor leaves. Those Death Eaters might come again. Also, keep an eye on the map and floo me in my office if you see anything unusual. Severus, I think you know what to do. I'll have to go and notify the ministry. Good night."

"Are you sure you're all right? Hermione?" Ron asked.

"I am alright, just a little shaken. Good night both of you and go back now." Harry and Ron left with their invisibility cloak, leaving Snape and Hermione.

"Can you walk?" Snape asked.

Tiredly, she got up and proceeded to walk to the hospital wing. Reluctant as she was, she did not dare disobey a command from Dumbledore.

"Well, lets go." Snape snapped.

"Huh?" Hermione was baffled.

"I am escorting you there. And don't thank me. Thank Dumbledore."

"Oh, but thanks all the same, I know my way."

"Orders are orders. We don't want another Death Eater attack, do we?" Snape retorted tiredly.

"Professor, they took my hair. Won't it be dangerous if they use it for a potion? What I mean is, anything can happen to my hair. Like for example, they can use it for Polyjuice Potion or something?" Why was she babbling?

Snape surveyed her, as if sizing her up before replying.

"Yes, and unless I am much mistaken, this has something to do with Potter. Any part of the body contains DNA and can be used for many purposes, no matter in potion making or other means. However, it won't harm you directly as long as you stay in Hogwarts. You should know what these walls..."

"Is heavily protected with all sorts of magic. I know that. Polyjuice Potions though...that could be dangerous. And why Crookshanks? I know he's smart but other than that I think he is a normal cat, not animagus or anything like that...Sirius told me..."

Snape looked irked that she dared to interrupt him back but did not say anything about it.

"I think it is time you get some rest. Even know-it-alls can get hurt and if you don't move now, I'll give you a detention."

Hermione wasn't shocked. Snape after all is a rather nasty person. In fact, this is one of the more civil conversations she had exchanged with him. She was too tired to ponder about it, after being hit with six different curses and ducked three stunners. Thank goodness she had time to put on a Concealment Charm and ran off. She was more than ready for a good night sleep.

"All right, lets go."

She walked forward and quickened her pace. They were nearly reaching the hospital wing when she stumbled and nearly fell, when Snape caught her from behind and steadied her.

"Are you alright?"

"Ye..yes" She steadied herself and walked again, thinking about what Snape had done. He had prevented her from falling and even asked her whether she was alright or not. The way he supported her was surprisingly tender, something she did not expect from this silent and menacing professor. She also caught a whiff of him. He smelt like the herbs they used for potions, so jumbled that she couldn't pinpoint what it exactly was. It wasn't a bad smell either, she thought.

She was pondering about it that she did not pay attention to where she was heading and knocked headlong into a wall, to her embarrassment. She tried to explain that she was alright, only distracted but Snape wouldn't listen. He must have thought that she really wasn't feeling well and not capable of walking. He pulled out his wand, proceeding to levitate her but put it back in his coat. It would be too humiliating. Instead he did something he never did before.

Hermione felt herself picked up from the floor but Snape didn't put her down. He slung her over his back and walked briskly towards the hospital wing. She protested weakly but Snape wouldn't relent. After a while, Hermione got used to the rocking motion and only tightened her grip on Snape's shoulders.

OOOOOOO

What am I doing, Severus thought. First I offer to escort her to the hospital wing and now I am carrying her. He tried to dismiss the thoughts out of his mind. He couldn't help noticing the way his student's hair curled down her shoulders and the way it kept coming down on her eyes. She would then subconsciously brush them away. She is rather pretty in a special way, he thought. Luckily he did not encounter anyone. He couldn't bear the embarrassment.

Wait, where did all those thoughts come from? He tried not to think about it. Soon, they reached the hospital wing and as he dumped her on one of the white beds, he noticed that she had fallen asleep.

She looks serious even when she is sleeping, he thought. He called for Madam Pomfrey who questioned him endlessly on what happened. He described her conditions as best as he could and drew up a chair, next to her, watching her sleep.

He knew that no harm would come to her now. Yet he couldn't help being worried. Why did Voldemort want her? Well, that's easy. She is Potter's best friend. Yet if they could attack her, they could attack Potter. Then why specifically her?

He decided to watch her and look for any signs of side effects from the curses they threw at her. Goyle was stupid. He would automatically use a Stunner. Rookwood would use an Unforgivable. But he did not, or as far as he could tell. Malfoy don't do anything. He let others do his dirty work for him. Nott and Avery, those two are more difficult. They were famous for their assorted hexes and curses, even in their school days. It would not be easy determining what they used.

He pondered over the mystery of it all. Why would they send five Death Eater into the middle of Hogwarts at this hour? They did not make a scene, except attack Hermione in the middle of a deserted corridor. When had she become Hermione to him? He thought furiously.

Did they have a special target or were they just trying to randomly grab someone from Hogwarts for experiments or other amusements of Voldemort? She wasn't anyone important, just a normal muggle-born. They couldn't know about her at all, except for Malfoy who was displeased that she beat his son academically.

It was possible that they need a sacrifice and muggle-born would be a perfect tool. Yet five people are excessive. Any of the Junior Death Eaters in Hogwarts could have poisoned her and someone can fetch her. Obviously, she was more important than he thought.

He felt his eyelids close and willed himself not to drift off. However, sleep soon took over him and unconsciously, he rested his head on the arms of the armchair he conjured.

OOOOOOOO

The graveyard was dark. There were voices and she made her way towards them. Finally she could hear what it was. She could see a tiny source of light from the clearing. It made her blood run cold. She had never seen him before but she knew. It was Voldemort, giving orders to his faithful servant, Wormtail, who whimpered unnecessarily. Soon, five Death Eaters appeared. They were masked but there was no mistaking that long flowing lock of Lucius Malfoy.

She was sure they were the group that attacked her earlier. She was sure this was a dream. Yet, her mind is strangely clear.

All five of them prostrated themselves in front of the Dark Lord who looked amused.

"My lord, we obtained what you wanted."

"Very well, you have my thanks. Stand up. We'll call a meeting soon. But not now. You may go."

They left, leaving Voldemort with Wormtail, who was holding on to the bow- legged cat, trying very hard to prevent it from escaping. He was bitten and his yelps sounded through the whole graveyard.

"Hush you idiot. You'll even wake my father. You are too noisy. I wonder...shall I silence you?"

"No, My Lord, please don't..." Pettigrew knelt and begged.

"In other circumstances I might. I am very pleased tonight so I will spare you. Now, this ugly thing Lyanna calls a cat, we might need it later. Don't you dare to lose it or you shall face my wrath. She is the right one, Wormtail. Blood of my blood. Excellent. Not to mention it makes it easier to get Harry Potter. Tell me Wormtail, is he the sorry fellow his father was? I have no doubt. His mother was pretty, I grant you that. She shouldn't have died. She gave the boy a blood sacrifice. I should have seen it coming. After all, Gryffindors are a noble sort of people, aren't they? They are brave, yes, foolishly brave. How you become one of them, I really do not know."

Wormtail whimpered even more.

"Silence. Now, we only need to find her. Touch alone is enough to confirm what I searched." He gave a high cruel laugh. "And you, Wormtail, how thick can you be? You've known her for quite some time and didn't even know it was her. That brings about a punishment, don't you think? Crucio."

Hermione watched with a certain fascination as Voldemort tortured Wormtail. She could not make head or tail of what they were talking about. She knew some innocent girl is in trouble. Is it that Lyanna Voldemort was talking about? She tried to pull away, to no avail. She was rooted to the ground while Voldemort continued to torture Wormtail until a soft voice called out to her.

OOOOOO

She wasn't trashing but he was sure she was dreaming. Now, her expression was bafflement. It was soon replaced by horror. It was six in the morning, still rather early. He didn't want to wake her, but couldn't bear the sick look on her face as her nightmare pulled her even deeper.

"Hermione..." Severus called out softly. The name sounded strange. It was the first time he had ever used it.

Soon, she stirred and opened her eyes. It took her a moment before she could register her surroundings. Severus watched as her expression changed to astonishment, as if wondering why he was here.

"Hush. You just had a nightmare and I woke you up. Don't worry. Everything is fine." He didn't even know he was capable of comforting anyone.

Suddenly, she burst out.

"No, it is not fine at all! Crookshanks is kidnapped. Some girl called Lyanna might be in trouble and so is Harry. Voldemort is planning something. I wish I knew. He tortured Wormtail. He planned murders. Is that what you call that fine?"

Severus was shocked. What did she see in her nightmare? He wasn't aware that she was rude. How on Earth did she know about Lyanna?

He had no time to ponder as she got up and rushed out of the Hospital Wing, heading towards the Gryffindor tower.

Typical, he thought. She must have forgotten that she is now in Slytherin. After all, it wasn't something to be proud of if it labels you as a Death Eater.

He knew he had to go after her before Madam Pomfrey gave him a tongue- lashing.

OOOOOOOO

Hermione wanted to go to her dormitory and cry. She just felt a need of crying. Voldemort was inhuman. There was only one word to describe him. He tortured people for the sake of torturing them. He loved to kill. He even kidnapped Crookshanks. The enormity of losing her pet was so great that she was engulfed in another bout of tears.

Yet she made herself calm. It was only nearing seven in the morning and the castle was pretty deserted. Subconsciously, she decided to go back to her dormitory and take a really hot or cold shower. Her footsteps took her to the Gryffindor Tower and she realized her mistake as she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

She shouldn't be here. Yet she knew the password. She was tempted to go and surround herself with the warmth of the Gryffindor Common Room.

Just at that moment, the portrait swung open, only to reveal Ron and Harry.

"Hermione, we were on our way to see you. Why are you here? You shouldn't be up yet." Harry said.

Without a word, she flung herself at him and broke into tears. Harry patted her back awkwardly while exchanging looks of bafflement with Ron.

After a while, she felt better. She heard the Fat Lady snicker. It was time to go back where she belonged, she thought sadly. She doesn't belong here anymore. Her place was at the Dungeons. Just as she disentangle herself from Harry's arms, she saw an angry Professor Snape trying to order a staircase to move so that he could climb up to the Gryffindor Tower.

She couldn't help herself and laughed.