The Twenty

by Leyna Rountree

COMPLETE! Hermione and an unlikely Pansy form an elite group of witches, and possess one unusual commonality. Facing their most carnal desires, they will harness a power not seen in an age, to save themselves and protect Hogwarts. Can it stay a secret?

22. The Road Less Traveled

Disclaimer: Not mine, never was, never will be. Still borrowing and enjoying my playtime with Rowling's wonderful characters!

Chapter 22: The Road Less Traveled

"I saw Hermione."

Snape crossed in two long strides toward Draco and bared his teeth. "WHERE IS SHE?!" Draco could feel his hot breath on his face, spittle accompanied the words from his lips.

Draco had never seen him so worked up. He shrank back from the potions master and wore a look of suspicion on his face. Dumbledore recognized the boy's mental calculations. To Draco, Snape was still not to be trusted. Of course, Snape didn't exactly inspire trust in others.

Draco pulled himself to his feet, disliking how similar he felt when his own father used to use his height to advantage.

"Mister Malfoy, there is precious little time," Dumbledore said. "This is the strongest lead we have. Tell us where you saw her." Dumbledore was standing, and Draco—standing or not— was completely overcome by Dumbledore commanding presence at that moment.

"She told me not to say anything, and she's long gone anyway…" Draco said with a fleeting look toward Snape.

Snape snatched him by the collar and lifted him to eye level. Draco gasped, his feet dangling a few inches above the ground.

Dumbledore crossed his arms, and while it might appear to many a benign move, he was actually much closer to his wand. He waited and watched for Professor Snape to decide the best course of action for the student who had always managed to straddle the fence.

"Mister Malfoy, you better tell me right now where she is or you will wish you had kept your little appointment tonight." Snape face was cold and speech a deadly whisper. His venomous look was fearsome enough.

"You d-didn't let me finish," Draco managed. "Please put me down." His worried expression and eyebrow raise toward the Headmaster pleaded for intervention.

Upon seeing the disapproving look and 'ahem' from Dumbledore, Snape obliged. Draco's feet found solid ground, but Snape did not release Draco from his grasp. "Speak."

The words came spilling out as fast as he could say them. "She works in a bar called 'The Shot' in Muggle London, and has been bartending there for three weeks. When I decided not to join tonight, I apparated to London and told the cab driver to take me to a popular club. I just happened on the place where Hermione worked. Well into the evening my Father showed up, though I don't think he had a chance to see us. We ran out the back, Hermione arranged for me to get a ride to the Leaky Cauldron so I could Floo back here…"

"You mean you actually spoke to her?" Snape released him.

"Yes, sir. I arrived there around five forty-five and left about one fifteen."

"And you're just telling us now?!" Snape was furious. Damn, he had first seen her nearly 8 hours ago!

"Severus, patience please. Mister Malfoy, I take it you were somehow unable to contact us after you left?"

"Yes, sir. If I tried to apparate again, I wasn't at all sure I would make it. I was kind of upset when I went to London and went way off course." Draco grimaced in admitting his error. "Hermione isn't exactly in the nicest part of London."

"Mister Malfoy, did you say she was a bartender?" Dumbledore asked with some disbelief.

"Yes, sir. She pours shots all night, sometimes dozens at a time. She seems to… have adjusted pretty well."

Snape's expression revealed nothing of his racing thoughts. Hermione Granger, 'the brightest witch of her age', has been working in a common bar, in Muggle London for three weeks. It was nearly incomprehensible.

"Where did she go if she's no longer at the bar?" Dumbledore asked.

"She left on the back of the bouncer's motorcycle. Who knows where she is now. I asked her to come with me several times but she wouldn't have it."

Snape voice became distant after listening to the conversation. "How did she appear to you? Was she in good health?"

Draco looked at him strangely. Why would he care about Granger? "She was fine, a bit paranoid, but okay."

"What was she wearing, what does she look like?" Snape asked.

"What? Do you mean, was she in disguise or something?" Draco looked puzzled. He shrugged. "She was wearing a black skirt and a sleeveless black t-shirt." Draco thought a moment. "She had her hair pulled back from her face and wore earrings."

Snape was already confused. Jake said he'd cut off all of her hair. Short. What did she have to pull back?

Draco saw Snape's perplexed expression and things just weren't adding up. Unless this was a show of concern all for Dumbledore's benefit. He had done nothing but berate her in class. Of course, Snape had worked at Hogwarts for years and Dumbledore appeared to trust him.

"Something on your mind, Mister Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked with a curious twinkle, and peered over his spectacles to elicit a response.

He clenched his jaw and then took a deep breath. Draco's eyes moved from those of Dumbledore to meet those of Snape. "I didn't take the Dark Mark tonight," Draco said firmly. "I don't intend to at all. Not ever. You might as well know now, because my Father is sure to be looking for me." He considered the Death Eaters and Voldemort notified.

Snape regarded Draco with new appreciation for the boy's self-determination.

"Draco, please have a seat," Dumbledore offered him the chair. Snape warded the door, and closed the Floo, taking a seat beside Draco.

Draco looked at both men not knowing what to expect.

"You have done a very brave thing this evening. And I am sorry we couldn't give you a little more guidance in your decision. It seems our concern for your choice was unwarranted. You surprised me, Draco." Dumbledore looked at him the same way he had after Christmas, with that almost paternal sentiment that was so sadly lacking in his own father.

OUR concern for your choice. Snape was concerned about his decision? "I couldn't join… that," Draco searched for a word to describe what he so desperately wanted to avoid. "I may be a lot of things, but I am not going to do what my father did."

Dumbledore blinked a few times and considered the boy. It was a good first step. "Draco, everything that happened tonight is very crucial," he said standing. Reaching into a box behind his desk he pulled out a bowl Draco recognized as a Pensieve. "Miss Granger, has been missing and her disappearance is extremely important to what is happening right now…"

"With the spell?" Draco guessed. Pansy had told him some. The rest he figured out.

"Yes," Dumbledore replied hesitantly. "Did she… mention anything of it?"

"No, I just figured. She was really close to Pansy and held onto the spell the longest. It's hard not to notice the giant blue pentacle in the Great Hall. And when I was in the bar she looked… I dunno, um... excited."

"Excited, Mister Malfoy?" Snape asked. "How so?"

"She seemed kind of…" Draco almost cringed to say it. "She looked like Pansy did after she came back from the forest in January. That kind of excited." Dumbledore still looked confused and so Draco cautiously supplied another word. "Insatiable."

Snape's face hardened, but knew Draco was just making an observation, he wasn't being malicious.

"Mister Malfoy, if you please." Dumbledore gestured to the bowl.

Draco brought the tip of his wand to his head and concentrated. Then he pulled four long silver stands from his temple and dropped each into the bowl.

Dumbledore nodded and gestured for Snape to indulge. He had noticed Snape's preoccupation with Hermione's safety on earlier occasions. Snape had been tense, on edge, ever since her disappearance. Snape needed this, he need to do something to find her. Frankly he was the best detective the Order could hope for. Dumbledore would be satisfied enough to watch the events from the surface, while at the same time keeping a close eye on Draco's reactions.

Snape looked into the Pensieve and prodded the silvery substance with the tip of his wand. He had been plunging into memories since January, but they were all his own and none of them held clues to bring her back. Finally this was current news— he was going to find Hermione.

Snape bowed into the stone basin to face the memory, soon surrounded by Muggles on a darkened, wet street looking much the same as the place Jake had dropped him off last week. Ignoring Draco's image, he slipped by him into the mostly empty bar.

There she was. Beautiful. Healthy. Her bushy hair was reined in, pulled back from her face in kinky blond-brown waves, her untamed tresses anchored to the back of her head with bobby pins and well-placed barrettes. A few wisps of hair framed her face and silver Celtic knots dangled from her lobes. Her arms were well- defined from hard wok. To his relief, she appeared well-nourished and had obviously put on some weight since her cave experience.

Hermione lifted another heavy case of liquor onto the bar and removed twelve bottles of vodka out to stock her station. She threw the empty box on the floor and stomped on it with an odd look of satisfaction on her face. She picked it up the flattened cardboard and tossed it out the swinging door.

Snape walked up to her, studying her every move. This hadn't happened eight hours ago. She squatted behind the bar, reaching up to grab each bottle and stow it beneath the bar. Snape peered over, looking at the top of her head. He wanted to wring her neck. How dare she just stand here doing ordinary things in some relative safety without letting them know how she was? Members of the Order had been looking for her for nearly four months, searching everywhere, turning themselves inside out to find her and she was here, in— of all places— a bar, looking completely unbothered by it at all.

Snape couldn't have been more wrong. What he witnessed next confirmed that.

"Hey Kate!" Snape didn't look to see who called out the unfamiliar name but Hermione did.

She brushed herself off and made to stand up, "Yeah Frank?"

The tall man looked over the bar and whispered, "Stay down and look in the mirror."

A look of panic swept over Hermione's face and Snape watched as she swiftly grasped her wand hidden in the lining of her skirt. She looked at Draco's reflection and harrumphed. She looked back at the man. "What him? Harmless."

"That's good," the relieved man said.

Stay down, Kate. She wasn't even using her real name! How could he be angry with her for trying to protect herself? Snape could kick himself for assuming she enjoyed this. That she was on holiday. That she wasn't being responsible. Hermione Granger was the definition of responsible.

Draco walked up behind Snape to ask for directions and then noticed Hermione beneath the bar. She drew herself up, unable to stay hidden now.

"Hermione! What the hell are you doing here?"

"Frank, can you give us a moment?" her eyes never left Draco. The tall man who was Frank departed and Hermione took swift action to remove Draco's wand.

Snape was impressed. Hermione was initially distrustful, but despite circumstances still managed to be supportive of his choice and help him to escape. Had he been in her place, Snape would've cut and run.

He watched as they bantered and Draco tried to convince her to return. Snape didn't think he'd done a very good job. Draco was right to be concerned about doing magic, for his father would have surely located him sooner.

Snape also saw what Draco was talking about when he said Hermione had adjusted. She worked the bar like a seasoned professional. It bothered him to see her talents go to waste. It must pain her to do such mundane tasks when there was so much out there waiting to be discovered. He imagined that Hermione was also aware of this, having given up a lot to run. And what was so horrible that she had to run? Pansy said she couldn't fulfill the spell. But there was just something missing there. Hermione wasn't terribly impulsive, which made this derailment of hers a little difficult to fathom.

He could see it in her eyes periodically though glimpses of Malfoy's memory. Twice she turned to face away from the crowd, taking a deep breath and composing herself. Sometimes she would get these sad eyes and this faraway look, and then snap back to reality to fill a drink order. He heard Danny thank Draco for cheering her up, and said Hermione was happier than she had been in a long time in seeing someone she knew.

Following her into the next memory, she went to collect shot glasses, and noticed her expression change as she wove her way through the writhing crowd. When Hermione returned to the bar her skin was flushed and she looked antsy… excited. She turned her back to the patrons for a moment and gripped the shelf in front of her, her mouth hanging a bit open. Then she pulled her hand to her abdomen and chewed her lower lip, abruptly turning when her peer came to check on her.

It was almost too much for Snape to see her like that. He couldn't help but be a little aroused by it himself. It was the expression he saw in the memory of the Yule Ball, intermingled with some of the initial desperation seen in the mirror three weeks ago— the face with seductive, glassy, brown eyes that he fantasized about secretly. She must feel like that all the time since the spell. Hardly a romantic vision as she struggled to compose herself, it bothered him to think about her that way— Hermione was running from desire not embracing it.

The next memory came and Hermione danced with the other bartenders behind the bar. From the change in her mood, it seemed this was one of the few moments she truly enjoyed. Soon afterward, he saw her expression change to one of panic as the tall bouncer waved her down over the crowd. Snape turned to get a better look and caught a glimpse of Lucius' arguing with the other bouncer through the front door.

All along, Snape had been hoping that his Goddess would provide some clue as to her safety or whereabouts. This evening, she had been in real danger from one of the most loathsome, immoral, detestable people he knew, and yet Gaia had shown no interest. His theory had failed him, and suddenly Snape felt livid that something might happen to her before he could stop it. She could be dead before he ever found out. What good was Gaia if he couldn't use her to protect Hermione?

He watched as Hermione yanked Draco over the bar and crawl out the back. Snape followed quickly and listened as Hermione barked out instructions to keep Draco safe. Draco tried again to get her to return but she refused. Snape was amused at her kindness when she pulled a stack of notes from her pocket, tips from the bar. Again, Hermione was nicer than he would have been.

Snape's last vision was of Hermione cursing under her breath about her clothing choice while she hitched up her shiny, black, fitted skirt, and then straddled the motorcycle to sit behind a man she called 'Frank'. The skirt then barely covered her hips leaving her thighs exposed. Snape ran as they sped out of sight and could only see which direction they turned before the Pensieve spat him out into Dumbledore's office. He needed to find Frank.

Draco scooped up his memories again and placed them back in his head.

Snape stood next to the Floo, "Thank you Mister Malfoy. Headmaster, I must leave for London."

"Be careful Severus," Dumbledore said as he unblocked the Floo.

Draco was about to object, but it seemed that Dumbledore trusted him. Snape still made him nervous though.

As soon as Snape took a step toward the fireplace, green flames appeared and a bubblegum-pink-haired woman stepped out. "Good, you're here!" She grabbed Snape's arm to pull him into the flames. "I found out where she's been living. Come on! The Witches Brew, London," she said crisply and they disappeared.

Draco couldn't believe what he just saw. He had never seen her before, and she seemed glad enough to recruit Snape to help find Hermione.

Dumbledore let out a sigh of relief. "Mister Malfoy, thank you for coming to us so quickly. I can see by your expression you must have concerns about what transpired here."

"Professor Dumbledore, I'm not so sure I should mention it but Professor Snape is a..."

"Death Eater?" Dumbledore said to the shocked boy. "Is that what you were going to say? Yes, I know. But he is extremely dedicated to protecting our students. When he returns, I suggest you speak further about that with him."

Draco nodded, flat out shocked that Dumbledore had been so straightforward. Nothing got by Professor Dumbledore— why had he been surprised? Draco knew that was all Dumbledore was going to discuss with him on that matter. "What about my father? I won't go with him."

"No, I can't imagine you would. You should be concerned about your father, but don't be too worried. Do not leave the grounds under any circumstances and be careful of your peers. I need not mention that you may not discuss what happened tonight with anyone… except perhaps Miss Parkinson," he said with a smile. "If you care to resolve some of your other differences, you might include her closest friends," he suggested slyly.

That meant Potter, Weasel, and Ginny. Dumbledore was always trying to reunite the houses. "Yes, sir. What do I do if my father comes to pick me up or something? He has a habit of just showing up."

"Draco, have you heard of the wonders of a well-placed portkey?" Dumbledore grinned.

Draco left Dumbledore's office with new optimism. Everything was far from rosy, but it was a hell of a lot better than being a slave. The portkey Dumbledore gave him was a silver snake coiled around a round tiger's eye stone. It hung beneath his robes on a long chain. Charmed by the Headmaster, he could use it anywhere, at any time, to be safe from his father. He had to find Pansy.

-----------------------

Tonks and Snape stepped out into the wizard's apothecary in central London and disapparated immediately to a darkened stairwell. The popping noise made by their entrance echoed in the space around them and Snape shot an angry look at Tonks, the supposed Auror. She wasn't terribly stealthy for a trained agent of the Ministry.

"Oops, sorry 'bout that. Wait 'til you see," Tonks said pushing a heavy metal door open for Snape.

Snape followed her into the poorly lit hotel. Florescent lighting flashed overhead, as several of the bulbs perpetually threatened to go out. Through the thin walls, the squealing of a crying child could be heard from one of the rooms down the gloomy hallway as well as graphically intimate exclamations from other rooms which should be kept private.

The place was filthy, and smelled of urine and smoke. "This is where she stayed?" Snape shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, and for only 270 pounds sterling a month. The landlord said she's paid through for three more weeks. But it looks like she's not coming back," Tonks said.

"Why do you say that?" Snape asked.

Tonks looked both ways and took out her wand, muttering several complex spells. "Because all of her stuff is gone." With her foot, she pushed the door to Hermione's hotel room open. It looked worn, except for the bed that was made, but looked cleaner than anywhere else in the hotel. Mirror, bed, dresser. A few cosmetics were on the dresser with some shampoo. Everything was ordinary, the exception being the runes on the doorframe he had seen in the mirror. She had lived here.

Tonks saw Snape's gaze linger at the rune work. "Took us twelve tries to get in. Clever. Even for runes, it's pretty sturdy work. For someone who can do no magic, Hermione's got it where it counts."

"Have you interviewed her neighbors?"

"Are you kidding? Have you been listening?" Tonks threw up her hands.

In the background screams of 'Oh fuck! Yes! Yes! Harder! Harder!' and other strained grunting could be heard in sync with the repetitive knocking of a rickety bed frame thumping against the wall. Revolting. How could she live like this? Jake had to give her money. This is probably all she could afford. He had to admire her survival and sheer nerve to go as far as she had.

"They weren't very talkative. Most of the rooms here are rented for one night, if you know what I mean."

Snape rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

"Landlord says she came here exactly four weeks ago tomorrow, and was happy enough that she paid in advance, in cash. Went by the name of Kate Evans."

Snape looked around the room. She was struggling to make it as a bartender, in London, with little money and living in a dump like this with nothing but runes for protection. Resourceful girl.

"We've turned it inside out. She didn't leave anything telling," said Tonks.

"She worked down the street at a place called The Shot. They may be closing up soon. I need to talk to a few of their employees," Snape said.

He walked out the front of the building, quickly outpacing Tonks.

"Hey, wait up!" Tonks jogged a bit, now taking two steps for every one of Snape's.

The club's neon sign flickered out and an older man was locking up.

"Excuse me, are you the manager here?" Snape asked.

"Yeah," the man flicked his cigarette. "Who wants to know?"

"I was hoping to know where I could find Kate Evans. We're friends of hers," Snape said agreeably as he could manage, unable to hide a bit of urgency in his voice.

Nick threw his cigarette on the ground and snuffed it out. "I'd like to know where too. She just walked out tonight." Nick turned to walk to his car, unwilling to help the pair. Frank had talked to him already about Kate's predicament. They were a tight knit group, and Nick wasn't too keen on helping anybody who might try to hurt Kate.

"Please. We've been looking for her for a long time." Tonks raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't that concern you? Isn't there someone she worked with that could help us?" she asked.

She had Nick's attention. "You say you're friends of hers, but Kate didn't have any friends. Why should I tell you anything?"

Tonks and Snape looked at each other. "The truth is best Severus."

He sighed angrily. "I am her professor at a school she ran away from, so unless you want to lose your liquor license for employing a minor child as a bartender, I suggest you fork over the damned address!" She wasn't really underage anymore, but clearly Nick didn't know that.

Nick gritted his teeth. He didn't like this guy. "I never saw anybody who knew Kate until tonight— some kid showed up. Blond. Derek I think his name was… or something like it. Maybe you should ask him."

"We already spoke to him. Danny gave him a ride home. He said she went off on the back of Frank's motorcycle," Snape baited, hoping for additional info on the employee. "Do you know where I could find Frank, or a number where he can be reached?"

Nick sighed and turned the keys in the door. "Come in. I don't know what good it'll do you. Frank lives almost an hour out. He doesn't have a cell…" Nick pulled the string to activate the light bulb that illuminated his cluttered office. There were tall stacks of papers everywhere, and how he was going to find employee records in this mess was beyond Snape. Nick began searching somewhat randomly, but after fifteen minutes, found the coffee stained folder.

Snape gritted his teeth throughout the exercise. If Tonks hadn't been there, Nick would've personally escorted him to Frank's house and one way or another, told him every last detail. Snape was very efficient.

Nick narrowed his eyes. The imposing man reminded him of one of his own teachers growing up so he coughed up the address and home phone. "It may not do you much good. I think he was planning on a trip somewhere. May not be back until tomorrow night."

"Thank you, you've been very helpful," Tonks said diplomatically.

Snape took the documents and looked them over, scribbled down the relevant information and thrust the folder back at the manager. He was not at all happy with how much time it had taken to get something so simple. Being an Auror was always described in such romantic wand-slinging fashion, and while Snape could be shrewd and sly, he preferred a too direct approach that would not be looked on favorably by the Ministry.

---------------

Hermione kept her arms around Frank's waist as they sped down the street and turned the corner. Her heart was pounding in her chest with the resolving fear of seeing Lucius Malfoy. Hopefully he had just come for Draco— and as far as she knew, that was as close as a Death Eater had come to finding her.

She couldn't return to her apartment, thankful at least to have had the forethought to pack an emergency bag. She hoped Draco was making it okay to Hogwarts.

The motorcycle hummed beneath her, wind whipping her hair, pulling some loose from her bobby pins. She could feel the thrum of the engine vibrate through her fingertips and under her rear. As the fear subsided, it was replaced with the exhilaration she had at the club, a renewed desire, as when she waded through the crowd of gyrating dancers. All sensation suddenly became more important, her senses heightened—she held more tightly to Frank and became aware of her own breathing. Hermione closed her eyes, finding herself more interested in the feel of Frank's leather jacket and his muscular torso than thinking about where she was going or what she was running from. She was straddling him from behind, her skirt raised up on her thighs, catching the wind which made the back of it balloon out a little behind her. Everything became very hot between her legs, uncomfortably so.

She opened her eyes and tried to regain some self-control. She wasn't wearing white and there was no spell she was chanting, but felt like she wanted to touch everything. Anything to give her a release. She tapped Frank's arm to signal him to stop and he pulled over, having only traveled 20 blocks.

"What is it?" Frank asked turning off the motor.

Hermione stepped off the bike, quickly pulling down her skirt, embarrassed that she had to do so. "I need to go. Thank you for helping me, Frank. I really owe you so much."

The tall gentleman saw the desperate look in her eyes, not satisfied with her answer. "I'd prefer to take you somewhere you can stay."

"There are some hotels up ahead." She pointed at several that were both pubs and had rooms for let.

Frank frowned. "Kate—you could come to my place. It's not much but you can crash there and you can figure out what to do tomorrow."

Hermione shifted her feet uncomfortably. "Thank you, for everything. You're really sweet to think of me. But I'll be okay." She gave him a big hug, an immediate mistake because the physical contact of being close to any member of the opposite sex was electrifying. She kissed him on the cheek, lingering a little longer than she had intended. Pressing her lips to his face felt good, and she could still feel the sensation of his skin after her lips left his cheek. But when she leaned away, she could only feel the regret in her heart that it wasn't Severus she had kissed. It felt strange, like a betrayal— that guilt briefly replaced the desire she had felt only a moment earlier.

Frank was a little taken aback at her forwardness. "You're welcome, Kate. You have my number if you need anything."

"Y-yes, thank you. Tell Nick I said thanks for giving me a job. I'm really grateful." She walked away down the street, backpack over her shoulder.

"Hermione!" He called out.

She turned to look at him. Busted.

"Your friend called you that. Is that your real name?"

She didn't know what to say. As Kate she could be ordinary and plain. But in the end she was just herself. "Yes. My name is Hermione Granger," she admitted with a smile. She ached to be real, but also ached to be alive. "Don't tell anyone if they ask I worked there…"

"Yeah, I know. Kate Evans just walked out on her job. Who's Hermione?" Frank smiled back.

She loved hearing her name said aloud. She existed again and realized she had to make a new plan. As the walked into the first pub, she felt her thighs stick together with sweat and moisture from the motorcycle ride and her resulting arousal from contact with Frank. She felt good when she kissed him, but when she pulled away, she was abundantly aware that he wasn't the man she wanted.

It was still before two, and she decided to buy a drink before bed. No one in this place cared if she looked old enough. The Ale House had a room available so she paid and went straight to the bar. She was relieved when the bartender poured her a double scotch.

She was tempted to drink it straight in one go, but decided to sip it instead.

There was the bartender and three patrons beside herself. It was a vast change from The Shot. No loud music— just one piano and half a dozen tables.

Hermione was jittery and still needed something to do. "Do you mind if I play?"

The bartender shrugged. He could barely remember when someone last played it. "Be my guest."

The lid was covered with a thin film of dust, her fingertips left clean ovals when she lifted it. Underneath, the keys were white and shiny, this piano being in much better condition than the one Nick got at a good price. She set her drink on several dry napkins and began to play a melancholy tune. The notes together sounded a little sultry, almost seductive as they ran together. Hermione let the music fill her, allowing her body to sway a little as she played.

A few minutes passed and an older gentleman approached her. He leaned against the piano. She finished the last few bars and when she opened her eyes, he was standing there.

"You play beautifully. Jason Kingmon…" He held out his hand and she shook it.

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Kingmon. My name is Hermione," she volunteered. She was only staying one night, and wanted to be genuine for a little while longer.

"Please, call me Jason." He was feeling his age.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so formal. I'm just accustomed to that." Her fingers touched his left arm lightly in apology.

"May I buy you another?" He gestured to the bartender.

"Please."

Jason left to retrieve her drink and returned with another double.

Hermione took it and sipped. "Thank you. Would you… like me to play something else?" She inquired a bit playfully. The liquor was having the desired effect—making her relaxed and sleepy, taking the edge off her desire. It also made her lips feel a little loose.

"Hmmm…Was that John Barry you were playing before?"

She raised an eyebrow, "You know your music, Jason." Her voice dropped a bit lower.

"Do you know A House is Not a Home?" he asked quietly, taking a long drink.

"Of course," Hermione replied, seeing his rather somber expression.

…A chair is still a chair… even when no one's sitting there… But a chair is not a house, and a house is not a home when no one's there to hold you tight…

Hermione's fingers trembled and stopped playing after they found a last, dissonant chord. She swallowed her emotion and finished her drink. "I'm not so sure that I should be playing that right now," she said in a hollow voice.

Jason didn't think that was the best selection for him either. He was quite absorbed in his own self-pity at the chords. "Why are you here?" He asked bluntly.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're young, and beautiful." She scoffed at the complement. He repeated it, "You are too beautiful to be at a place like this talking to a man like me."

"I'm not following you Jason," she said, genuinely puzzled.

"No one really comes here to stay, Hermione. They pass through; many stay for only a few hours."

"And then why are you here then?"

"Ladies first."

Why not? She thought. She was feeling a little punchy. "I feel in love with a completely unapproachable man I can't ever have. It's horribly complicated, but that's the short of it." She drank her scotch.

"What, was he married or something?"

"God no!" She blurted out a little loud for the quiet bar, and flushed with embarrassment. Hermione rolled the empty glass around in her hand.

Jason ordered them two more drinks and while Hermione knew she would pay for it later, she needed something to mask the desire and help her sleep.

"How about you, Jason? Why are you here?"

He figured he owed her as direct of a response as she had provided. "I come here several times a week to be alone. I occasionally pick someone up so I can forget about how much I miss my wife." He emptied his glass and the ice rattled at the bottom, cueing in the bartender.

"Are you separated?"

"No, widowed."

The air was still. Hermione immediately regretted her question.

"I'm sorry," she said honestly, touching his arm again. She pulled away though, reminded instantly of her condition. Her physical yearnings were in stark contrast to the current subject matter and it sickened her.

"It's alright. She's been gone five years now," Jason nursed his drink.

"I'm sure that it hasn't been long enough to change the way you felt about her," she said softly.

He smiled, pleasantly accentuating his crows' feet beside dark eyes. It made him a more youthful man. In a tiny way, it reminded her of someone else she knew. They talked for an hour or so, until Hermione was well drowsy and her speech a little slurred from drink.

She excused herself goodnight, but after three doubles in a short period of time, it was challenging to remain upright. She had last gone to bed at ten-thirty in the morning the previous day.

Jason Kingmon was a gentleman. He was probably around fifty-seven though they didn't discuss age. He was well-dressed, handsome and partly balding, his dark eyes and Middle Eastern features made him attractive in his own right. He must have been incredibly sexy in a younger day. He held himself well, though he was weary and tired. Jason came here to feel something different— to be alone in a bar instead of alone in a house.

Hermione felt an odd connection with him. She could not of course compare her loss with his, but he was a good listener and she needed someone to talk to and to have confide in her, even briefly. She couldn't continue to starve herself for companionship by continuing to build relationships on falsehoods.

Jason helped her to the room and she slipped inside after kissing him goodnight on the cheek. She was too intoxicated to feel any sexual pull from kissing him, so she collapsed into bed and fell asleep quickly. If you could call it that.

When she woke it was around two-thirty in the afternoon and she felt awful. She had a colossal hangover, and felt smelly and sticky with the sweat of sleep. Once awake, she became acutely aware of her need.

She took a long shower and tried to take another nap, only successful after masturbating. At four, a maid burst into her room, started to find anyone there.

"I thought you checked out." The maid just stood there.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Hermione looked at the time. "I'll pay for another night. There's no need to clean the room."

The maid left abruptly without a word, and Hermione sat up and rubbed her eyes. She could not do this. She could not just sit here, sleep the day away and not plan her next step. "The next step to where?" she asked herself. "Where the hell am I going?"

She brushed her hair and twisted it up, slipping on a pair of low cut jeans and a button-down white cotton pinstripe blouse with a collar. At first she was throwing her clothes on, but then that delicious feeling captivated her again. The sensuality of cloth on skin was arousing her, as it had in the cave when she had her first bath. She moaned a bit as she pinched a nipple through the fabric of her shirt. Stop it.

Hermione needed to think. She threw all of her stuff into her backpack and left to pay the hotel manager.

She could always think when she played.

------------

Snape had just entered the front hall after an exhausting night with Tonks. As soon as he entered, Minerva, Albus and Remus converged on him.

"Severus, you have been gone all night. What did you find out about Miss Granger?" Minerva asked.

"She indeed was working at a bar and left suddenly. She apparently received a ride from one of the employees there, but he didn't show up at his home last night. We waited, but he did not return. This morning, we woke his disabled mother who said he had gone out of town but should be back this evening. We have no way of speaking to him until then."

"I know you are disappointed, but I'm sure she will turn up soon," Dumbledore said with a serious glare and half-smile.

Snape's eyes narrowed suspiciously at the old man. "Do you have something to add?"

"I saw a very faint image of Hermione in the mirror a little while ago." Snape was ready to bolt for his office. Dumbledore put up his hands in a calming gesture. "It's alright. Remus is watching it carefully. Minerva also watched for quite awhile. It appears she has been sleeping, but her image fades in and out."

"We don't have a location?" Snape asked.

"I'm afraid not." Dumbledore escorted Snape to his office slowly, and could sense the impatience in the steps of his potions master.

Students passed them by in the halls on a Saturday, as always giving Professor Snape a wide berth. The students of all years were mostly afraid of him— as if breathing too hard could lose house points or earn detention. The crowd was dispersing after lunch and Dumbledore and Snape ascended the steps behind the stone gargoyle.

Snape strode forward quickly, and Remus sat back in his chair to give his uneasy peer some space.

"You see? Nothing." Remus said. "I thought I could see her toss and turn a little, but it was too vague to make out.

Snape could see the faint outline of her features through the haze, wavy hair splayed on the bed and then she vanished from view again in a fog. "How long has it been like this?"

"Since you left last night. Minerva said it faded out for about six hours this morning."

"Why has she been desperate if she's only sleeping?" Snape asked.

"Hermione is barely sleeping. She tosses and turns and moans often. She doesn't seem at all comfortable when she does come into vieeewahh." His words faded into a sleepy yawn. "Excuse me. I need to go grade some papers. This is going to take a while. Let me know how it goes." Remus stretched into a standing position. He had been here for hours.

Snape took Remus' place and peered into the blank mirror, hoping that she would come back into view, real time confirmation of her safety and an opportunity to locate her before the Death Eaters did. He wished for a glimpse of her, but he was aggravated that the closest he would get to her was in a memory or on the other side of some mirror.

-------------

Draco got up early and dressed, eager to talk to Pansy. It was three am before he got to sleep, and even then he could barely catch a wink. Draco found her in her secret corner down the dark side hall from the Slytherin dorms. The light streamed in from the tiny oval window, lighting up the highlights in her hair. He walked up to her with his shoulders back, smug look on his face, finally free of his father. He couldn't wait to tell her.

Pansy's eyes widened seeing him. She took a step back, feeling a bit cornered. "Draco, I told you that I don't want to talk to you especially now!" Pansy yelled, turning her wand on him.

Draco held up his hands in a placating, unarmed gesture, slowly pulling his left sleeve up to exposed unblemished white flesh.

No tattoo. No Mark. "You didn't?" Pansy asked in shock.

"I couldn't," he explained. "You see, someone told me I'd be a slave. No one owns me." He reached out to touch her arm, and she ran to hug him fiercely.

"Don't you ever do that again! You hear me?! You gave me a heart attack! I was up all night worried about you, after weeks of the silent treatment." She smacked him on the arm.

Draco kissed her thoroughly, cutting off her speech. The dam had broken and Pansy had truly been waiting for this. After nearly accosting him earlier in the year, she did not want to be the one responsible for making the first move. She wanted it to come from him, not just go along with whatever was suggested just because she was available.

She tasted marvelous to him. His tongue explored her mouth and he sucked on her lips and tongue, nibbling each tenderly. This was all new territory, January's sexual explosion was nothing like this emotionally connected kiss, like the beauty of a first kiss.

Pansy was overwhelmed, so relieved he hadn't been turned or corrupted… or killed. She had been worried about a lot of things—she felt like she had lost her only friend and an opportunity for something more. Now what she had wanted most of all was coming true. She could scarcely comprehend it all in the warmth of Draco's embrace.

He kissed her lids and cheeks, face and ears and neck. "Thank you Pansy," he whispered looking deeply into her eyes. "I wouldn't be here without you."

Damn it. He was going to make her cry. So she hugged him tightly and dried her eyes so he wouldn't see. She pulled back and he caressed her face with his thumbs just looking at her.

"I need to talk about last night, Pansy."

"You don't have to…"

"No! I want to. I didn't even use the portkey, Pansy. I didn't show up at all. I saw Hermione."

"You WHAT?!"

"I apparated to Muggle London and just…"

Pansy grabbed his hand and dragged him down the hall to the Gryffindor Portrait Hole. "Come on!" He nearly had to chase her to Gryffindor and she hadn't let go of his arm yet. "Why in the hell didn't you wake me last night?"

Pansy charmed her clasp right in front of the Fat Lady. Soon Ron, Ginny, and Harry were at the door.

"Let us in," Pansy asked Ginny, still out of breath.

"No way we're letting Malfoy in, even if you are all chummy," Ron snapped.

"We can go to the Room of Requirement, but I'd prefer not to wait Ron. Draco has new information on Hermione," Pansy said in a rush.

Ginny and Pansy had talked about the Mark. It couldn't have happened, otherwise Pansy wouldn't have brought him.

"It's alright Draco, you can come in," said Ginny firmly, glaring at Ron.

"Are you mad? He's a…"

Ginny cut Ron off. "Ronald Weasley," Ginny hissed in her mother's best reproachful tone. "Any friend of Pansy's is a friend of mine. This is important so you will pay attention to your sister!"

Ron gulped. Ginny had her wand out, and she had put it to good use before. There were precedents.

Harry gestured him in but then changed his mind. "Wait. We do need to go to the fifth floor. We can't meet secretly here. Someone will notice and tell."

"Tell what?" Ron asked. "It's okay here! All Gryffindors."

"No Ron, it's not okay for Draco here." Harry's eyes met Draco's. "If Draco is seen here it could cause problems for him in Slytherin."

Draco nodded and agreed, thankful that Harry would think to consider it. They all ran for the fifth floor in record time.

"Damn! Does it have to be so bloody far?" Ron said, out of breath.

They all entered and sat in a circle on the couches provided.

"Hermione's okay. I saw her last night working as a bartender in a Muggle bar."

"A bartender? B-but… but… Hermione can't…"

Draco ignored Ron and pressed on, "She'd been working in a place called The Shot in London for three weeks under the name Kate Evans."

Harry smiled at her choice of last name.

"She thought you'd like that," Draco said.

"How did you find her Malfoy?" Ron asked angrily, still distrustful of the blonde menace. He was also a bit jealous that Draco had the opportunity to see his dear friend, and then fail to bring her back to safety.

"Yesterday was my seventeenth birthday. My father set it up for me to take the Mark and I refused…"

"You didn't actually refuse…" Pansy interjected.

"Well, you could say I voted with my feet," Draco said creatively.

"So you ran like hell," Harry concluded.

"Exactly." Draco smiled. "I got my apparation license and I apparated to London. I hailed a cab and asked the driver to take me to a popular club, really anywhere. He drove me around for thirty minutes and then I got up and went into The Shot."

"That's too much of a coincidence," Ron said narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"That's not the whole story is it?" Harry agreed.

Draco sighed and confessed everything, wincing again at the part where he mis-apparated. He talked about her job and who she worked with, questions she asked and how she missed them, but was adamant about not coming back.

"I bet Professor Trelawney would have something to say about how you just 'happened' to stumble on her," Ginny said.

"Of course she'll claim she knows what you'll have for breakfast tomorrow too," Draco rolled his eyes.

"What happened next, Draco?" Ron said.

So Draco now is it? "She got on the back of a motorcycle, and the bouncer at the club drove her off somewhere. I don't know where."

"We still don't know where she is?!" Ron's hands flew up in the hair in a grand gesture. "That's just bloody great! Some help you were!"

"She's dead set on not coming back, Weasley. I'm serious. She has gone through a lot of trouble to hide and now, thanks to me she has to start all over again." Draco wasn't happy with that. He felt it was his fault he put her in danger. She appeared to be well safe at the bar without him before his father came looking for him, though she didn't seem quite stable.

Harry looked at Draco to size him up and could tell he meant what he said. "What are you going to do now?" Harry asked. Draco was surprised at the change of topic and Ron was still preoccupied with Hermione to be concerned with Draco's issue. Ginny noticed that Harry was starting to see the larger picture now. Soon they would be graduated and would no longer be inter-House rivals but wizards fighting on the side of light or dark.

"Dumbledore is going to help me. If my father tries to come for me, I may have to go suddenly. I won't be leaving with my father." Draco's voice was steel.

"That's difficult. Dumbledore is a great wizard. If that's what he said, he'll do whatever it takes to help you," Harry said.

Ginny nodded. Draco didn't need the reassurance that Dumbledore was a man of his word, but he appreciated it.

"Draco, you have been a completed prick to us over the years," Ginny said outright. "But I'm willing to put our differences aside if you are." Ginny stuck out her hand to shake on it.

Draco was completely taken aback by Ginny's offer, surprised after the all the curses and insults to her family that she would ever forgive him. He shook her hand and Ron huffed at his sister.

"Same for me Draco," said Harry. "If you need anything, I'll help you. I'm glad you didn't join." Harry shook Draco's hand also.

Ron was miffed, and felt obligated to follow suit. He wasn't quite ready to put all the slugs, hexes, organized mockery, and bigoted insults toward Hermione behind him.

"How 'bout it Weasley?" Draco was first to extend the olive branch. Ron shook it finally, but still didn't trust him.

It wasn't a friendship per se. It was more of a respectful tolerance. Friendship would have to be earned, but they had time.

-----------------

Draco invited Pansy to their nook in the maze for lunch, having finally resolved their differences. After some quiet conversation, Draco lifted his hand to her cheek and pick up where he left off that morning. He leaned in to kiss her, stopping halfway to her face. "You have no idea…" he murmured, looking deeply into her eyes.

"What?" she asked in a little whisper.

"You have no idea how much you've done for me," he breathed. "If it weren't for you…" he stopped to swallow. "Thank you." He kissed her tenderly and all sound around them was extinguished. Nothing existed except the sensations of their kiss.

It was divine, a youthful innocence about them that they had both been denied. Too much drama, too much heartache and not enough joy. They were reclaiming it now by the tuberoses.

Their kissing continued well into the afternoon, both losing track of time. Each kiss was delicate and well meant. There was no desperation in their movements, no clumsy groping. No undressing. Every action had a deliberate purpose. Pansy kissed his face and neck, each eye and brow above it, his hands and each of his fingertips. Draco sighed and gazed at her with kind caring eyes, so grateful that he had a second chance. He cradled her in his arms, not wanting the moment to end. They felt connected.

Not terribly far from the Slytherin couple, a pair of young Gryffindors were making good on a promise.

"I can't wait any longer," Ginny sighed into Harry's mouth between kisses.

"Three months is a long enough cooling off period, don't you think?" Harry suggested.

"Definitely," she said on breath.

Ginny's desire had subsided completely since their first sexual encounter. She became preoccupied with her OWLS and worry for Hermione. Harry also had a lot on his mind. They were still intimate but hadn't taken it to that next level yet, either due to interruptions or bad timing. The school setting wasn't very conducive to lovemaking. It was tempting to have sex for the experience of it, but they had also wanted to wait for the right moment. They wanted to make love as they would have had the spell not interfered.

They longed to do so. And now with so much behind them and news of Hermione's recent safety they had some peace of mind, and a quiet afternoon before them. It had been difficult to wait. They enjoyed each other slowly, tenderly making the most of each touch and caress.

"I love you so much Harry." Tears streamed down her face from the release though she couldn't understand why. She didn't feel sad at all.

Harry reached up to brush hair out of her face and kissed her deeply. "Thank you Ginny," he said pressing his forehead to hers. "Thank you so much. You are the most special person in my life, the most important. I don't deserve you…"

"Don't say that Harry…"

"I love you Ginny, so much…" his voice trailed off and moved to kiss her again but his expression changed from bliss to one of puzzlement when he noticed something different about her.

"What's the matter, Harry?"

Harry's brow furrowed, "Ginny, these weren't here a minute ago." He rolled off of her and held out her arms. "What does this mean?"

She looked down at what should've been clear white flesh and found her forearms covered in Latin with the same grease marker she and Pansy had used to perform the desire spell at the Order meeting. "Oh my God."

"What does it mean?" Harry insisted.

"I have to go see Dumbledore right now!" Ginny barked, pushing herself off the bed, and throwing on her clothes. "This can't be good…" she muttered as Harry pulled on his jeans. They cleaned up quickly and Ginny remembered to pull a comb through her hair before they left the Room of Requirement.

"That's the spell that you did to try and find Hermione, isn't it?"

"Um… sort of… It really wasn't a location spell, it was more like a desire spell." Ginny really hadn't related the entire episode of the Order meeting.

"Another desire spell? What— did it rebound on you or something? Are you feeling okay?" Harry asked. The whole purpose of them waiting was that Ginny wasn't under the influence of a spell, but she seemed calm and collected.

"I feel fine Harry, no different! This isn't about me," she huffed. "Now get your map and find Pansy!" She slipped on her shoes and left the fifth floor in a dead run.

Harry unfolded his father's map and saw Draco and Pansy in the labyrinth. Damn, they would have to be on other side of school grounds. He ran as fast as he could, nearly colliding with a grouping of first years. "Sorry," he called out over his shoulder as he descended the front steps. As Harry rounded the corner of the school he could see Draco and Pansy walking hand in hand out of the maze.

"Pansy!" he called out.

Pansy quickened her pace alongside Draco and released his hand. "Harry? What is it?"

"Pull up your sleeve," Harry urged with his hands.

Pansy looked a little put out, as if the Dark Mark would magically appear on her arm or something. She pulled up her robe and saw the Latin written all over her arm. "Oh no…"

Draco looked shocked. "What is that? That wasn't there a minute ago."

"Gotta go!" Pansy peeled out and raced up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. Draco and Harry ran after her. She met up with a panting Ginny in the hallway outside of Dumbledore's office.

"Oh shit," Pansy said seeing Ginny's arm. The gargoyle swung open automatically as if expecting them. They ran up the steps, leaving Draco and Harry locked out in the hall.

Harry kicked the wall in fury. He hated being left out. All this time he'd been looking for Hermione. Why was he out on the hall and not upstairs?

"Relax Potter. It's not like they hadn't left us out all last year. I figure they can handle at least some stuff without our help. Did you know about that Latin writing?"

"No. Not much, just that Pansy and Ginny tried to use some additional spell to try and locate Hermione. It didn't work."

"What kind of spell?" Draco asked.

"A spell of desire."

"What? Again? Are they nuts? I thought Pansy said she'd never do that again as long as she lived?!"

"Ginny said the same thing. Bloody stupid," Harry said.

"You're telling me. So what happened?" Draco asked.

"They got to see her a few weeks ago but they couldn't find her. Maybe they'll be able to find her now."

"Well, better late than never," Draco said. He had just seen her two nights ago, maybe there was some hope.

Harry hoped he was right. They sat on the floor outside of Dumbledore's office to wait.

-----------------

The bar was quiet except for the woman at the keys. The bartender was watching her intently; surprised she had drawn so many customers in just a few hours. He had done more business than usual and for once maybe the pub might earn more than the lodging brought in. The stools at the bar were empty save one, where one gentleman watched the songbird from a distance, captivated by her voice and youthful beauty.

If the piano had been a man, he would have been sore, satisfied and flat by now. Several hours passed as Hermione pounded out her frustrated feelings on helpless keys. She channeled all of her emotions through her fingertips to the ivories as she played with intense passion.

Finally she belted out the familiar chords…

"And oh! And God knows, that you're standing on your own,

Blind and unguided in to a world divided,

you're thrown, where you're never quite the same,

although you try, and try to tell yourself you really are

but in your heart uncertainty forever lies….

And you'll always be…

somewhere on the…

Outside…"

She stopped playing to wipe her tears. And heard clapping. She was completely oblivious to the small crowd who had gathered about her, who entered the bar to hear her play. Mind you, it was only ten people—but for The Ale House that was record numbers.

Hermione took a sip of her milder beverage of wine, returned it to her napkin and rubbed her forehead, still unable to rid herself of the constant yearning within her. No more whiskey. It didn't help anyway, and she needed her wits about her. She saw Jason by the bar, who raised his glass to toast her and she nodded offering a sweet smile.

For all of her playing Hermione had not purged a single shred of desire. All of the last four hours had been consumed by thoughts of Severus. Skin and heat and sweat and straining. She couldn't help it. Masturbation wasn't doing it anymore for her— never really had in the first place. She licked her lower lip and unconsciously brought her hand up to her throat, raking her nails down her neck— a little too slowly to be considered a simple itch. She realized what she was doing and took another long sip of wine.

Hermione Granger was desperate.

And altogether completely unaware that people were watching her every move.

Snape tried to keep an unreadable expression as he heard her play. Through the mirror, she could be heard as clearly as if she had sung right beside him. It was hard to keep a straight face— such notes made one's face become longer and thoughtful, tasting each chord and savoring the feelings inspired by them. He had long since stopped looking for the details in the bar that could suggest her location, as there were none. She sang the song she'd sung before, but it sounded different now. She was different now, and though he saw the pain in Hermione's face there was something just beautifully raw about her, primal which had trapped every person in that room and himself as well.

As Pansy and Ginny entered they could see Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore were already peering into the mirror they had used at Headquarters.

"Miss Weasley, Miss Parkinson, you have very good timing," Dumbledore said.

"You can see her?" Pansy asked, taking a space beside the Headmaster.

"Yes, for a few minutes now she's been coming in quiet clearly…" Dumbledore said. Snape said nothing, transfixed by the scene before him.

"Well it's no wonder you can see her," Ginny said. "Just look at this!" She and Pansy thrust out their arms to show the professors.

Snape turned to read the words written over and over, seeing as slowly more words began to repeat on their arms as time passed.

CupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFames

CupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFames

CupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFamesCupiditasLibidoFames

"Oh my," Dumbledore said. "You must still have some ties to her."

"Why is that? The spell ended didn't it?" Pansy asked.

"Yes, that would seem a logical conclusion, hmm? The spell at Headquarters was interrupted, not really ended— And since you used some of the magic from the spell you did at the Yule Ball to connect with her along with your blood, I can only suppose that is why the spell continues to communicate with us her most desperate desires." Dumbledore gestured to the Latin inscriptions covering their skin.

Ginny and Pansy looked at their arms and back to the mirror. There Hermione was, playing the piano in the pub. The crowd around her was dissipating.

"But she looks fine, how can she be desperate?"

"Miss Weasley, despite appearances I am quite sure that Miss Granger is not fine," Snape said harshly. Snape had hung on every note of her impassioned performance, each note a painful one— a sign of unfulfilled heartache and pain. He felt sympathy for her, and wished she would now return to the safety of Hogwarts.

"Ginny, her desire has probably been increasing since the spell. If that's possible. Have you seen the pentacle today? It's so bright it's casting a bright blue reflection under all of the students now." Pansy explained. Ginny had been out of pocket all day. She had missed the new surge.

"Magic has a way of making sure things happen, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore instructed over his spectacles. "The spell isn't complete and in this world, magic always searches for the simplest order."

'Great, I'll never forget to read fine print again,' thought Ginny.

They watched as Hermione took another sip of her drink, shifted a bit in her seat and then stood intimately close to the older man in front of her.

Anger rolled beneath Snape's skin when Hermione's lips brushed the man's cheek and whispered to him. The man responded, placing his hand on her shoulder, whispering back into her ear. Snape gritted his teeth and attempted to remain still. Dumbledore himself was unable to suppress a supreme look of irritation at the scene, and noticed how similarly Snape felt at the sight despite his stoic expression.

No one knew what words were exchanged. But they could guess. Everyone gasped at what Hermione did next. Snape clenched his knuckles until they were white as Hermione slipped her room key into the gentleman's pocket. She walked to the stairs and the man followed closely behind her as she led him to her room.

"How could she do that?!" Snape could not contain his resentment any longer. "There is no way that man is the object of her desire. He must be three times her age!"

Pansy addressed Snape immediately. "Professor Snape— it…does…not…matter." Snape looked at her, puzzled by her statement. She repeated herself. "Truly, as bizarre as it seems to you, it doesn't matter who it is or how old he is. Look at her. I bet she would do anything or anyone at this moment to rid her self of some of this," she gestured to the tattooing on her arm. "She must be miserable."

Ginny and Pansy stood close by one another as they watched the scene unfold. The tension in Dumbledore's office was terribly uncomfortable. They recognized that look. Ginny and Pansy's faces held the same expression in January, with the exception that Hermione had no outlet.

----------------------

Jason had been watching her all night. She played and sang beautifully, with so much passion. She made eye contact with him frequently and trembled when she came over to him and touched his arm to lean in and speak.

She needed him, and Jason wanted to feel needed. She was far too young for him, but found she was wholly unconcerned by it. She craved attention, timid yet so forward when asking him to be gentle with her. Perhaps that is why she had picked a man of his age, instead of the obviously younger men here this evening hanging onto her every note. He would be more patient than those blustering clumsy fools. He could do that.

Jason reached past Hermione's waist to reach the lock, resting his left hand on her hip. Hermione felt a little apprehensive as Jason turned the key in her hotel room door. She turned out of his embrace and flipped the light switch off. Neon streetlights streamed in her window, casting strange shadows on the floor.

With his dark brown eyes, Jason stared at her for a moment, his thumb caressing her cheek, outlining the cheekbone there. Hermione leaned in slowly and kissed him on the cheek, avoiding his gaze— both too much and too little like that of Severus. She rested her cheek against his, breathing in his ear as he kissed her neck in return. It was awkward and her heart raced, and nerve endings tingled as her desire began to ebb.

Jason placed his right hand on her left shoulder, pulling the shirt downward slowly exposing more flesh on her neck. He kissed her on the mouth and to people on the other side of the mirror it appeared passionate enough, though nothing could be further from the truth.

"Hermione you can't do this," Pansy said as if Hermione could hear her. "This won't fix anything. You'll just feel worse."

"I'm afraid you're right Miss Parkinson. The only way she can end this is by confronting the object of her desire," said Dumbledore sadly. 'Why wouldn't she return? Surely this was so much more difficult to endure than returning,' Dumbledore thought.

All of them were transfixed on the scene in the mirror.

Snape couldn't take his eyes off of Hermione, though he wanted to bolt from the room. It was agonizing to see another man touch her, while Hermione seemed only partially interested. The age of the man in the room with her reminded him painfully of his own feelings and age difference. Hermione was desperate, but this experience for her which should be pleasurable looked like something she had to endure instead of enjoy.

Ginny knew Hermione's expression. She had been there. But her passivity just didn't look right. 'How could Hermione keep resisting? Maybe if it was who she loved, it would be different,' Ginny thought. If it had been the object of her desire, Hermione would be completely out of control.

Jason kissed her neck slowly, delicately, not pushing. Hermione kept her arms down, wanting more but also too paralyzed to do anything about it. He hit a sensitive spot on her neck and threw her head back with a soft moan, that communicated both pleasure and frustrated regret. This is wrong, this is wrong…

Jason held his body close to her, pressing himself to her against the wall. He reached up to her face to kiss her again, and Hermione raised her hand to grasp his.

"Jason," she said, pushing him back a bit. "I can't… I can't do this," she sighed. She looked at him, the broken man who made a habit of this in grieving for his wife. Hermione felt sickened by what she had been about to do, her stomach clenching tightly. "I'm sorry," she whispered tenderly. "You've been such a gentleman."

Jason looked at her with wonder, and then straightened with the maturity of his years on his face. "Hermione. You are a lovely young woman, and stronger than I have been. I'm just not him, am I?"

She gave a slight shake of her head. That hurt. Of all people she knew she couldn't replace it was Severus. What she was trying to do was rid herself of some desire, and it worked, just briefly. She kissed him platonically on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, and exited the room.

Hermione fled down the steps toward the bar, her desire replaced with the pain of four months of running. In the side hallway across from the cigarette vending machine she slumped against the wall with noiseless crying. She rubbed her eyes, and then ran fingers nervously through her hair. What are you doing? If you went back now how would you begin to explain?

She rummaged in her bag for a Kleenex and brushed against her rosary beads. She could've burst into tears but instead stuffed it inside, grabbing her bag and running out the door to the street.

"TAXI!"

She needed guidance.

----------------

Snape's teeth clenched in fury when witnessing that man groping Hermione. They had shared a whispered conversation, though he couldn't make out what was said. At first, when she used his first name he thought that perhaps it wasn't the first time they had been together. Hermione' refusal of him made Snape relax a little, and he sympathized for her in seeing her struggle with what she had to do. Inside he was screaming, 'Foolish girl! Come back!'

Pansy has just spotted the name of the pub when Hermione left to hail the cab, but she left so quickly the information was useless if she didn't stay.

Ginny and Pansy had been so very focused on the mirror, they had not noticed the Latin words traveling farther up their arms.

"Merlin, help us! Look!" Ginny cried, pointing to Pansy's neck.

She pulled down her collar and the tiny words had covered both sides of their arms up to their neck.

"Poor Hermione. I hope she comes back soon. I don't know how she can stand this." Pansy said.

"Shhh! Be quiet, damn it!" Snape hissed. But it was too late, their chattering had overtaken Hermione's request to the driver of the cab. They had no destination and the cab was in motion. Bugger all!

Hermione doubled over halfway through the ride, her abdomen tightening painfully. Her eyes widened and she was unable to suppress a cry of anguished pleasure. "Aah…" She sucked in a sharp breath and groaned.

"Are you alright back there?" The cab driver asked.

"Yes," she hissed. "Just drive."

Something was not right, definitely not right. Severus felt something in the pit of his stomach at that moment and wondered if in some way it was related to his connection with her. He resisted the urge to clutch at his middle, uncomfortable in present company.

They waited for thirty minutes, still recognizing plenty of London's landmarks, however still could not deduce her destination. The cab came to a stop and Hermione paid the driver, bolting from the cab to a side door where one of the janitorial staff was leaving for the night.

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"Oh Gods finally! St. Peter's Cathedral!" Snape hastily pushed past the two girls for the door.

Dumbledore sighed relief. "Stay, Severus. Stay."

"What are you talking about?" He asked whipping his head around.

"She is safe there. She will come home now." Dumbledore said with confidence and relaxed into his chair.

Pansy and Ginny watched the interplay and were relieved that Snape was actually going to do something about their missing friend. How could Dumbledore look so comfortable?

"Safe? When has Hermione ever been safe?!"

"Severus… Stop."

But he didn't stop— Severus knew Dumbledore had truly lost it. "You're out of your mind! I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. We should've brought her back when Remus had the opportunity. I'm leaving!" he growled angrily and stormed from the office, ignoring Harry and Draco at the foot of the steps.

The gargoyle closed behind him, infuriating Harry and Draco further. Shut out again.

Dumbledore was powerless to argue with such a driven man. Snape was determined to make up for the failures of his youth. He would risk everything for her.

Snape ran to the edge of the grounds and disapparated to London. Quickly he hid behind a bush, seeing that he wasn't the only one watching the Cathedral grounds. See Albus! I was right to come.

He could not mistake the form of a fellow Death Eater in the bushes not far from the entrance. He became doubly cautious when he caught a glimpse of the distinctive silver wand sheath of none other than Lucius Malfoy. Bloody hell.

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"Wait! Wait!" Hermione said out of breath. "Is Sister Mary Barrone still here? It's an emergency!"

"Yes, ma'am. She's in the music room, last door on your right." He shook his head, seeing many women seek her out late at night. Sister Mary helped a lot of young women in trouble. It wasn't the first time he had let a woman in to see her.

He let her pass, and Hermione raced down the hallway, half sliding on a newly mopped floor and colliding with Father Renard.

"I'm sorry," Hermione stopped. "I came to speak with Sister Mary."

"She's right in there," he said brusquely. "We lock up soon."

Hermione resisted the urge to glare. He'd never been a very approachable man. "I won't be long."

She opened the door and Sister Mary was waiting for her, arms outstretched. Hermione walked to her, flung her arms around her and wept.

"I heard you, child. I have been so worried about you. Are you alright?" the elderly woman asked.

Hermione shook her head. "No. I messed up," she confessed in a shuddered whisper.

"We all make mistakes dear." Sister Mary rubbed her back.

"Not like this," Hermione huffed in frustration. She longed to tell the whole story and wondered how much Sister Mary could handle. Sister Mary led her to the couch and sat together.

"What happened? Last summer, I believe you were asking me about premarital sex. Was I mistaken?"

Hermione gasped. She didn't miss much. "That was a small part of it."

"And you ran away from your boarding school last Christmas?" Sister Mary stated.

"How do you know all of this?" Hermione's brow furrowed. Did Harry come here too? If so, maybe people were watching? She started to look around nervously.

"I know dear. I know. When was the last time you prayed?" Sister Mary asked.

Hermione choked back a sob. "Nearly four weeks ago. I don't know why I waited."

"It's difficult sometimes to ask for help when we need it most," she patted her hand. "When you prayed, had you already made up your mind not to return or did you leave it up to Him to decide what was best for you?"

"Are you telling me to go back?" Hermione pulled back defensively.

"No, child. I asked you if you truly listened for God's advice on the matter. Did you do what was easy or what was right?"

Hermione thought about it for a moment. She didn't know the whole thing. How could she? That would change matters.

Sister Mary read her thoughts before they were spoken. "Hermione, I don't claim to know what you've been through. And it's not for me to decide if you should return or not. It is up to God. And you have not truly asked for his intervention. He will not refuse you."

Why did she have to put it like that? With a few words she felt comforted. God will not refuse me. Does it matter if Severus does? And if he did reject me, could I handle it?

Hermione blurted everything out. "I fell in love with someone at school. But I can't talk to him. He's… it's not right. He couldn't… he wouldn't be receptive."

"It seems you painted yourself into quite a corner."

"You can say that again."

"After four months, do you think the paint is dry?"

Hermione sighed in defeat. "It won't work."

"I see. And did you ask him this?"

Hermione groaned. "No."

"Then how can you know for sure what his answer will be? Do you always know best?" She lectured.

Hermione shook her head.

"Are you clairvoyant?" Sister Mary taunted.

Hermione snorted.

"Well then my dear. I think you know what you need to do. You always knew, I think. There are different ways of knowing of course. And prayer is one way of getting there." Sister Mary patted her hand, comforting the woman beside her.

"It's so complicated," Hermione said with an ache in her heart.

"Love always is. But God has a way of uncomplicating things. We make things so difficult sometimes." Hermione could only nod. "I think it's time to take the road less traveled, dear." Sister Mary looked right into her soul, and Hermione could almost sense that she knew the innermost workings of her heart, could understand the long struggle within herself to master her feelings.

"And what road is that?" She asked with a half-hearted laugh. Hermione's decisions weren't coming too easily lately, and she was running out of options. She needed things spelled out for her— that's why she came to Sister Mary in the first place.

"Tell him that you love him."

Hermione gasped. "You're joking. I c-can't do that."

Hermione's mind raced with her thoughts of Severus, and how best to keep him safe. She had been such a coward, not telling him. Her heart ached, knowing that Harry, Ron, Ginny and Pansy wouldn't understand. And that she wouldn't be able to explain to Severus her reasons why she hadn't told him four months ago. Dumbledore would be furious.

After her talk with Sister Mary she knew what she had to do. She had in essence been wandering with no direction except how to avoid the inevitable. She couldn't wait any longer, she couldn't keep moving and changing jobs and identities. Severus faced danger every day in his work as a spy. 'God, Hermione?' She scolded herself. 'How could you just shut her eyes and hope for the best?'

"Thank you. I know what I need to do now." Hermione straightened her back nervously and braced herself to go out and confront her fear. She would lay it all out on the line. She would tell him, and promptly have her heart pounded into a fine powder and brewed. She was scared to death, but she'd do it.

Sister Mary prepared to continue her comfort of Hermione and return her to Hogwarts where she would be safe. She will make the right decision now, she knew it. But she was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing down the hall and those footsteps did not belong to Father Renard. "Go now, you must leave!" Sister Mary pulled the wand from her sleeve and Hermione gasped in shock.

"All this time? You were a witch?" Hermione had no clue. The nun understood more than she let on. If they had the time Hermione would have really read her the riot act. She could've done with a good dose of guidance from a Catholic witch when she was eleven. Instead her parents had to guide her through that difficult reconciliation of religious doctrines and the view that her magical ability was a gift instead of a curse. No time for discussion now, Hermione had a new mission and someone was rapidly approaching.

"Go. I'll take care of him." Sister Mary's voice was calm and assured, almost light and completely unafraid.

Hermione opened the window and climbed out. She ran, searching for a bush to lay low in, just to make sure that Sister Mary would be alright. She wondered how old she was, and found it difficult to reach into her pocket for the portkey to freedom while squatting on the ground.

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Sister Mary held her wand behind her and waited for him to enter. Lucius Malfoy opened the door dramatically and without preamble, raised his wand to cast.

Sister Mary of course, was way ahead of him. Lucius did not even have time to utter the first syllable.

"Securitas…" And Malfoy collapsed in a heap on the floor with a silly look of contentment on his face. His wand fell from his grasp to the floor, of no use to him now. He looked at Sister Barrone in shock, a look of joy shown on his face, utterly unable to cast, swear or curse.

"Peace be with you, Mister Malfoy," she said with a hint of sarcasm.

Snape slinked down the hall a few doors at a time until at last he approached the music room. He heard a slumping, and when he opened the door, saw Lucius Malfoy passed out on the floor with a look of tranquility on his face. The window had been thrown open and a dove was perched there. He watched as she stretched her wings and flew off into the night.

Snape followed her out the window, curious if Hermione had taken the same exit. He heard a startled cry and watched as two cloaked Death Eaters kidnapped her, disapparating with a loud crack. Snape looked on in shock, too late to help her.Snape fought the urge to panic and scream in outrage.He swallowed his anger instead, using it for fuel.Apparating back to Hogwarts, he longed to see her image in the mirror again, to see which of the Death Eatersdared touch her.

When he returned to Dumbledore's office four students and Albus were looking horribly disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Severus," Albus said. "We can't see her any longer."

"Why can't you see her?" Snape said in a panic, looking at the blank mirror. She was gone. How could she disappear?

"Because she's no longer desperate, Severus." Dumbledore stated the obvious. "She may have wanted this to happen."

"How can you say that?! Why couldn't you get her?!" Harry yelled at Snape.

"She had already left before I came. I had to be discreet, Lucius was there." Snape said

"He was?" Draco asked. "We didn't see him. It looked like two others took her, but their hoods were up, we couldn't see." Pansy and Ginny nodded, their lips mashed to thin lines of worry.

"There is nothing more we can do now. I will have people stay to watch the mirror. You should all go to dinner. Rest assured, I will contact you if she appears," Dumbledore said, attempting to pacify the worried students.

The students and left grumbling— especially Harry, who was being comforted by Ginny. Pansy tried to pull up her collar to cover the words, and gave up. She resigned to the knowledge that they would be there until Hermione fixed it. Draco couldn't help but stare at the words of desire written all over her hand, arm and neck.

There was a pecking at Dumbledore's window and he left to open it. In flew the dove, who landed and transformed into Sister Mary Barrone.

"Is she here? Did she make it?" she asked.

Dumbledore twinkled sweetly at his old friend and held sadness in them as well. "My dear Mary," he began in a raspy voice. "Miss Granger has been taken."

Sister Mary's own eyes filled with unshed tears and worry for the girl. She had looked after Hermione for months periodically since last summer, and could no longer find her after she left the caves. She thought on their conversations, Hermione's confessions and her prayers. Looking at Severus, he truly was the only person there would could help her. But it wasn't in her place to interfere. God always had a plan, and she wasn't always privy to it. Sister Mary Barrone made up her mind that her best course of action was to pray.

Snape could kick himself. No wonder Sister Mary could see him last summer in the cathedral when he was trying to remain concealed. No wonder Dumbledore thought Hermione was safe at the church. But even divine intervention was not protecting Hermione.

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When Hermione climbed out the back window of the church, she left with the intention of no longer hiding. From the bushes she shifted to a standing position to retrieve the locket wedged in her jeans pocket but didn't get the chance to activate it. A man jumped out from behind her clamping a hand over her mouth and wand arm. She dropped her wand reflexively and another man snatched it, snapping it cleanly in half.

Oh shit.

They disapparated and she opened her eyes to see an empty, dank stone room with damp walls. It reminded her of the cave. She was probably in someone's dungeons.

She heard behind her, "Good vurk."

When both men turned to face her she saw their cowardly silver masks and long black robes. Angrily, she couldn't resist but to see who her captors were. She reached for the nearest one to her, swiping off his mask.

Oh God. You. No.

Author's Notes:

Thank you for your patience in waiting for the next chapter. Many thanks to MA and Keket Amunet for their valuable time and contributions in making suggestions and looking for the flaws and gaps, and grammar issues which have plagued my drafts!

So close to home and kidnapped! Stay tuned, when finally in the next chapter Hermione and Snape come face to face. (I know you will ask, if Hermione is so desperate, why can't she be seen in the mirror anymore? Her fear had completely overtaken that for the moment and that will be explained next chapter.)

The Road Less Traveled was a religious book published in the 1980's. It is also a reference to a Robert Frost poem.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

From the Latin the three different words for desire mean:

Cupiditas- eager desire, passionate longing

Fames- hunger, famine, insatiable desire

Libido- violent desire, longing, immoderate passion, lust

Securitas means- freedom from care; peace of mind , composure; carelessness, false confidence.

As always I welcome criticism from readers and encourage you to let er rip and let me know what went well, or what you felt was missing.

In addition, I wanted to recommend a fic I recently came across on ashwinder, called The Coven, by deblovesdragons. It's also has components of virginal magic and super content about Wicca.

Laicamiel- Hey! Thank you for your thoughtful review. Snape recognized Hermione's intelligence, but still managed to only tolerate her. The affection last summer was pretty one sided. I think while the SOS were practicing the spell, I had mentioned in an A/N before that adults, teachers with moral/ethical boundaries managed not to notice/act on attraction to the girls, of course hormonal teenagers had no prayer of restraint. Of course they spent most of their times around peers, not teachers. Snape's current interest for Hermione has developed out of natural desire and desire to protect her form harm. Once the Yule Ball was over, notice Harry and Draco had to be the ones to help pace their partners down when consummating things. After the spell was cast, all of the girls (except three were free of their desire) and all of the surrounding population exempt from their lure. Draco now has an emergency portkey, and had the protection of Hogwarts and Dumbledore to help him. Of course Lucius would be supremely stupid to go there, but hey! He just might rise to the occasion. You may have to wait one more chapter to really see Snape's head. Wait 'til he tries to see about her! Thanks again for reading!!!

anon- Hey, just got your review after I read the Coven. I stumbled on it at ashwinder last week in the 'recently added' after she updated. But the twenty girls losing their virginity to Hogwarts is the plot of The Twenty. Deblovesdrangons has five members in a coven who plan something totally different. I love her Wiccan elements. A truly awesome fic. Can't wait for chapter nine.

artemisgirl- Thank you for reading! It takes me a long time to format properly for ashwinder, so that will be a slow process. Funny your divine intervention comment, cause she got it in this chapter and she still got kidnapped. Ah well. Severus would have no way of knowing that Buckwheat could reach her, and Buckwheat only happened on her because stealth owl stalked his way to Hogwarts through the Forbidden Forest and worked backwards. So we will just have to devise a different way for Snape to find out. Hope the cliffie keeps to hanging!

Pandora Nervosa- Thank you! No life stress I promise. My third year anniversary with my husband was last Wed and we went out of town the previous week. All good over here, no strife. But it did take awhile to tweek this chapter. Half of the next two are drafted and are being rewritten (over and over). Pressure to live up to the build up is stressful! Thank you for reading!

Neva- I did post at ashwinder, but the formatting has been problematic. I will post a few chapters at a time and may rewrite sections. Thank you for your review. As for other work, The Burden of Sight is the other fic in progress right now. After I finish the Twenty, I am going to have to dedicate significant time to quilting before Christmas. Thank you for your review!

Whizbees- I'm here! I'm here! I swear I'll update as fast as I can, but need to correct the chapters so you can protect your virgin eyes from reading garbage! Their instead of there, etc. I tried to e-mail you, but for some reason your link on wouldn't show me your e-mail address.

HazyDayClearNight- Thank you! Here's the new chapter, hope you enjoy along with a delicious cliffie.

Lyress- Here is your update! Is the woodpecker tired yet? Don't go insane. Here is a nice long chapter.

magictwinkle- Thank you for your review! Enjoy, and hope to have a new chapter posted in a week, approximately.

tjstein- Thank you for your review! Let me know what you think should happen, or who you would like to see more of!

EnterTheUnderrealms- Oh my God, you printed it?! Damn. My husband practically swears every time I print out a single chapter so I can edit on the bus. "You're using too much paper," he whines. Honestly. I made up a lot of stuff and some of the Power of the innocent was stuff I ref-ed on the web and cited quotes in Author's Notes. There was a website on menstruation and had lots of other tidbits from my background in social work, women's literature. Theories about virginal power are largely made up, but think of what you're capable of doing when you completely connect with your inner strength. And you can connect with your femaleness without being angry with men (however a certain amount of frustration at the inequities in the world are quite healthy and motivate us to act.) Girl power! Not a genius— everything I learned, I learned form other women. Smiles!

Mego- Thank you for your review, appreciate the complement!

Heather- Thank you very much. The reviews have been very supportive and after I get back to my quilting projects, I fully intend to write original stuff, though it may provide me no more joy than to sit on a shelf unpublished. The act of writing this itself has been fulfilling. Thank you for your review and encouragement.

Aicho- Thank you for your review. Unfortunately our dear heroine had to be kidnapped before she could come clean with Dumbledore and Snape. Hope to keep the suspense going!

leolover- Argh! Another cliffhanger. Hee hee. Love to keep you guessing.

crissy- Too late again! Hope you enjoy.

The Perfectionist- Thank you for your persistence. Hope your Saturday reading doesn't disappoint!

Slytherin Goddess- Eight hours! Good grief! Thank you for your attention. I never thought that SS/HG would be people to throw themselves into anything unless it was postwar and they were older. Even still, there are hurdles. Thanks for your feedback about the music/ time issue. That would take some work to fix, and I think I apologized for this in one of the Author's Notes mentioning that the music was not from 1996/7. Since I'm uploading on Ashwinder, it might be possible for me to address it. In addition the cell phone issue will be addressed in an upcoming chapter. Hermione would be the first one to quote 'Hogwarts, a History'! Thank you so much for your review and most importantly for taking the time to read it!

Romm- Yeah, not happy with her unfulfilling work. A waste of good talent.

Patty Waffle- Don't hurt your hand or your keyboard… Then you won't be able to access the internet. Except with your mouse. Another cliffie, hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading!

Jenn- Release the breath… Thank you for your review.

Marble Glove- I like you're perspective on Hermione. You're right, she always has to be doing something. The danger with that is a person who's not always fully aware of her own feelings. In the cave, she had a lot of time to explore that, sitting in the silence. I envision her mind going so much faster than she can keep up, her brain flowing faster than her hands can write to scribble down her ideas. Thank you!

Franflutewitch- Thank you! I struggle to come up with the cute names we assign to pets! Hope you like the next chapter! Take care.

bumbershoot- You're in Fulshear? Cool. Actually hot. Hasn't it been awful lately? Thanks for reading. Glad to provide so much reading for you! And here's another chapter.

eav- Ooh, I can't wait to se that one. Was the music the same at the Bourne Identity? If so I'll run down right now and pop it in the DVD just to listen. I couldn't find it on i-tunes. Keep reading!

Kali- Hey! Thanks for reading! Snape and everyone saw the firewhiskey bottle, but the ribbon had fallen off under the bed. She retrieved it after her image faded from view. And your second comment is more along the lines of Dumbledore's point of view. Rest assured, they will have it out. Out of character, yes and no. Love makes you do stupid things. Thanks for reviewing. I'm really trying to build up to the reason Hermione left and why she couldn't complete the spell.

Beky- No no no, not yet. Hermione has to suffer more, and poor Severus hasn't suffered enough. Soon soon!

TearsoftheInnocents- Hey Ja Ne, yes yes yes yes… Ha! Another cliffie, I'm a horrible bad person. Here's your update, hope it was worth the wait.

laughing-inside- Thank you for your review, and good luck with your writing. When I rush, I screw up, so take as much time as you need and proof, proof, proof. I never quiet get all the errors!

MystyKitty- Thank you Cat! I appreciate your sincerity. I'm flattered, Pawn to Queen is one of my favorite fics ever. I also love Roman Holiday too. I'm glad you cried (sounds bad). I bawled writing the next two chapters, trying to squeeze as much sorrow and pity as I could. Thank you for reading!

Luna Writer- Two stories only, none completed yet. Yeah, Draco's never quite a goody boy. I can see him as an antagonist to whomever he despises, and if that's his father I guess that would make him kind of light. I doubt highly the trio will soon (or ever?) trust him enough to let him in on Order business, or divulge Snape's role. Snape will have to handle that. Delicately. Draco is a person who watches his own back, as would most Slytherin's. Hope not to disappoint!

mione drac opal- Thanks!

Demon Sorceress- Hey! Thanks for the book rec. Will have to pick it up, but I'm behind on other reading.

MxS Rose- Thank you and Hermione and Snape will be reunited, in a way, in the next chapter. Thanks for your review!

Ms. Snarky- Thank you! Wow, really got some Draco fans out there! Hope you like what happens next.

Stellar Snape- Thank you! I'm glad you found it suspenseful, I'm not sure I was any good at it.

Ellie- I snorted when I saw your sque Hee. I feel the same way too when my favorites update. Thanks for hangin on. Draco is so not a Gryffindor. But amazing to know that there are Slytherins out there that reject bigotry. Draco does what he has to do to protect himself. The other stuff will come later, once his figures out what to do with himself.

Slytherian Angel- Thank you! Keep on reading, let me know what you want to read!

Tiffie 101- Hermione ditched the black hair paint and went natural when Draco saw her. She was still wearing all black though. Hah lol! On top of the car and he rolls off as he makes eye contact with his son? Ha hahaha! Danny would have a heart attack and stop the car. That's terrible! I love it. Thank you, still as terrible as the last chapter with this cliffie I hope!

wackoramaco87- You are not a nerd. My husband is a nerd, I know what that's like. You're a fan fic junkie, that's not nerdy-- it's cool. People keep asking, but probably no sequel. I can' imagine what plot that would have.

poetrychik- Oops, it's time, but it's not time yet. Time for a little angst in a more dangerous environment. Draco is light in a way. Hard to tell how that will manifest itself. And as for sex in DM/PP and HP/GW I alluded to a sex scene with HP/GW. It was originally long and too detailed, but I cut it out. It was distracting and boring detour from the story. It's enough to know that Harry and Ginny love each other and are progressing into a mature, sincere, relationship. I'm still figuring out Snape's goddess… hmmm. She's going to be one distraught spirit next Chapter. Thanks for your review.

wiri- I couldn't cut everything off, the poor readers (myself included) would riot. I have to write it for me just to find out what would happen! It could go so many different ways, I may just write an alternate ending! Hope you like some of Draco's resolution.

June Williams- So many typos and grammatical issues, so little time. Thank you so much for your feedback. I went back to correct the last chapter. I went on a trip to San Francisco last week and went through this chapter dozens of times. Then, even MA and Keket found still other errors I had missed on the read though. Hope you like Snape's response to Draco this chapter. Thank you for your thorough exam!

Fiona McKinnon- Hope you like Lucius deserving what he got again, because I love Sister Barrone's style. Women kick ass. Mick was fun to describe, I picture him being a total overly macho prat, who makes good on his innuendos.

Shabopo- Thanks so much for your help, it means a lot to me! Here's the next chapter, I hope you like!

Shauna- Thanks! It's interesting to see Hermione get relief from seeing someone she always detested. But Hermione's pretty open that way, not stupid, but open to giving second chances.

Althea Grey- Sorry to hear about your friend. Glad you were there for support. Draco is in less shit with Dumbledore than he ever was trying to play it safe with his unpredictable father. Snape doesn't exactly flip out, but it's hard to imagine him being elegantly angry, he's just a man who likes answers… NOW!

Armitage Blade- Thank you for your review! Hermione is running from rejection. And now that she finally decides to confront her fears and accept the responsibility before, she is cheated. How much longer until she breaks down? Three… two… one… she's becoming unhinged…

Kylara- Now Hermione knows she can't keep running, though she would gladly if she could get out of the clutches of Death Eaters. You are correct. If Snape dies, wards fall. It's that simple. And very dangerous given his occupation, that's why Hermione is so afraid to admit her transgression. Her decision to return however came a little late for usefulness now that she's captured. Here is your pleased Pansy! Hope you like it.

saturngurl123- Thank you! I've always found a dark, crowded, humming bar very exciting! Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Rachel Diego- It means a lot that you can actually see what's happening. I want you to be able to see and hear everything that goes on. Thanks for your review.

Javen Green- It will end in the next 2-3 chapters I swear. She'll click her heels together soon, I promise. "I hope it's worthy of this incredible tension," you said. God! I hope so too! No pressure… right? It'll probably taken me forever to write chap 24.

Min Hee- S'otay. (Trans. It is okay.) Thanks and glad you like Draco. I always saw him as a spoiled little rich kid, smart but doesn't apply himself and while he's all talk and may throw a decent hex, he's a coward which is a dangerous recipe for a right wing tyrant. Thankfully he had something to sway him!

Kawaiililkitten- She came to some sense, adnd got kidnapped. Damn. She just can't seem to get a break.

Dragonmaster Kurai- Hey! Glad you liked the Chia pet! And I was frustrated too with the slow upload. Tahnks for reading and reviewing!

Ezmerelda- Thank you for reading, hope you like the turn Draco's taken. Finally Severus gets to pursue Hermione!

Christine- Oops. Malfoy gets pretty close… and as for Gaia, stay tuned! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Lyress- Poor Greg, dunno what's going to happen to him. He'll have to come to his senses on his own. He'll have to stop being a sheep to do that though. You work in a bar? God I could've used your expert advice! You know lingo, when the bar picks up pace, what the staffing gets like. Finally here is the next nail-biting chapter, thank you for being so patient and continuing to e-mail me!

levans- God it did take forever to load didn't it? Geez, I had to wait three days before I cold see it myself and even still had a difficult time reading the reviews! Ugh! I hope it's easier this time! Hope you like Pansy and Draco's bit. They are a good pair in this fic.

amsev- I'll see your bet and raise you another cliffie. Thanks for Reading!

Rosmerta- I like Danny too, I think I may do something with him in a future chapter. Thank you for your review and for continuing to read! Gaia has a good role in the upcoming chapters, too bad she can't spill the beans.

Tabii- Oooh! Chains. (Tie me up, then I can write and not go to work.) yelps I don't think BDSM is permitted on fanfic (sorry, couldn't help myself). Hope you like the next chapter!!

azulkan2- Another cliffie ending. So there! Hopefully it won't take so long for the next chapter. It's half written already. Thanks for the review!

Nakhash Mekashefah- The home stretch! I swear. Maybe two or three more chapters. Like two more and an epilogue… we'll see. Thank you for the complement and thank you for continuing to read!

Nocturus- Thank you! Hope you still agree after waiting two weeks!

strawberry22- Yeah, motorcycles are cool, and drat but she couldn't quite get the necklace yet. On to Plan B. I can now answer your question about the deliberate stuff. The gender of the dove was deliberately written as a him, because that's how Hermione perceived the bird. Parallel to Severus assuming his artist was a man. As for stuff out of cannon, did I screw up the characters or Pensieve etc? I'll answer the questions about electronic devices not working on Hogwarts grounds in a future chapter.

bumble-bumble-bee- thank you for your review! I prefer longer chapters to shorter ones also. Hope this last chapter wetted your whistle. And sorry, no talk between Hermione and Severus this chap, but I swear they will next chapter!!!