Chapter Three: Dragon's Blood Promises

Mary Jo don't you know I read the note on your pillow?

Was it signed in lipstick or signed in blood? I guess now I'll never know

Correct me now if I'm wrong seems bleeding hearts don't last that long

And our last words still echo on and honey now that you're gone

By the time Severus and the other teachers arrived, Hermione was nowhere to be seen. Minerva transformed into her feline form and began frantically searching for a sign of her former student's fate, and moments later, she found it, transforming back and looking nervously towards Severus. "There was a struggle," she whispered, pale and horrified. "There are feathers, she transformed and tried to escape out the window. There was magic used, there is a scorch mark on the wall over there…" her voice trailed off, she didn't need to remind any in the room that the only spells that left scorch marks were dark in nature.

Severus looked around the room before speaking. "He would have taken her alive; he isn't smart enough to take a body with him. Albus, get Potter and Miss Weasley here, if anyone knows where he would go, it would be those two." Albus walked towards the fireplace, grabbing floo powder and beginning to rally his troops. It was Severus who saw the small piece of paper barely protruding from under a pillow. 'She is mine'. It was signed in red, a red which made Severus pale in horror before he caught the feint odour of dragon's blood. "Thank the Gods" he muttered softly, not realising he had spoken until Albus turned quizzically towards him. Shaking, he held up the note. "If he had signed it in his own blood the oath would be binding."

"Then let us be grateful that he is a coward." Ginny and Harry emerged from the blazing green fire and moved towards Severus.

"What the hell happened?"

It was Madam Hooch who answered. "He got her. We failed." The room fell silent, tears trickling down Ginny's pale face.

"Where would he take her?"

Harry paused. "The Leaky Cauldron. He was planning to take her there for the weekend, but never cancelled the booking. I'll kill him. If he touches her, I'll kill him."

Severus almost smiled. "Let me assure you there is a long line of people waiting to make his last moments excruciating. Harry, Ginny, Minerva, we should go."

"He'll kill her if he sees you, Snape!"

"That is exactly why he won't see me."

"And Minerva?"

"I have heard her threaten many wife beaters with transfigured boxers. I have always wished to see it. We should go." The four opened the floo network and

hurriedly exited Hermione's room, the sheet of paper falling unseen to the floor.

The room was dark when Hermione opened her eyes slightly, trying to figure out her surroundings without alerting her captor to her consciousness. She was tied to a bed, but it was not her bed. It was old and hard and reminded her of the beds at the Leaky Cauldron. She paused, running through the scenario in her mind, frantically trying to remember the last few moments at Hogwarts. Flying… she had transformed herself into a falcon and dove for the window, but then nothing. Her thoughts were returned to the present by the feel of cold metal against her neck. Her eyes flew open in shock, and she eyed her former friend nervously. "Ron? What's going on? Why are you doing this?" His fist was her only reply, and she whimpered softly. As he spoke next, his fist accented his words.

"You think you can just up and leave me whenever you want? You're mine, 'Mione. No one can save you, and no one wants to. YOU ARE MINE!" He grabbed a handful of her chestnut hair and dragged her face towards his painfully. A loud knock gave him pause, and he grabbed his wand off a bedside table and moved to the door. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Harry. I had to come warn you, let me in. It'll give you away if I'm found here." Slowly, Ron opened the door, letting Harry walk through. A stunning brown hawk rested on his arm as he entered, and Ron eyed it suspiciously. "I've been asked to search the area for you, and to alert the Auror's when I do. That's what the bird is for." Ron nodded and ushered him to a chair. "Where is she, Ron."

"Bedroom."

"Is she ok?" Ron shrugged absently. "Can I leave the bird in there? Maybe we'll get lucky and it'll peck her fucking eyes out." Ron grinned and beckoned him to do so, and Harry opened the door and beckoned the bird inside, pointedly refusing to look at the softly crying girl on the bed.

"So, Harry, what's with the change of heart? I thought you hated me for hitting her."

Hermione looked at the bird sadly, her mind spinning painfully. "I wish you could help me" she muttered sadly to the bird, tears falling silently, "because as soon as Harry leaves he's going to kill me." The bird flew off the coat rack it had perched upon, and dazedly she watched it change into the form of Severus Snape.

"Can you transform?" He asked her softly as his fingers worked to untie her bonds. She shook her head, groaning at the effort, and he watched her eyes roll back as a wave of spasms shook her body. "So he used the Crutacius," Severus whispered as he removed a small vile from his robes and emptied its contents into her open mouth. Her body stopped convulsing, her eyes closing almost peacefully as the dark of unconsciousness claimed her. He brushed a strand of her hair from her face and moved away from her, opening the window and transforming.

"Now?"

He shook his head. "There is a complication. She's unconscious, she can't transform."

"Then what the hell do we do now?"

"Pray for a miracle, I'd say. What about you, George?"

"Fred? George? What are you doing here?"

"Came in for a drink. What's going on?"

"He kidnapped Hermione; we're trying to rescue her. We can't without help… can you help us?" It was George who moved forward first.

"What do I have to do?"

"Climb the outside of this building and get her out of here and to a hospital."

For his part, the red head seemed unaware of the difficulty of the task. "Easy."

Severus nodded, throwing him a shimmering piece of cloth. "Invisibility cloak. You'll need it." Transforming, Severus flew off, leaving George to follow as quickly as possible.

"What was that all about?"

"George had a massive crush on Hermione in school." Ginny explained to Minerva, watching the woman smile sadly.

"Bugger crush, he's in love with her, always has been." Fred watched his brother leave, sighing loudly. Grinning, Minerva took her leave, transforming into a cat and moving fluidly through the late night crowd.

"That's our cue, Fred." Ginny muttered, standing and moving towards the back of the room. "Now we get to watch the fun."