Disclaimer-Any characters you recognize aren't mine, and neither is the Prophecy. It's all J.K.R.'s.

Severus glanced at the clock. It had been 15 minutes since Hermione had rushed to the library and she had not yet returned. He was beginnning to get worried.

"Severus?" Dumbledore peered into his face. "Go check on her and make sure she's alright."

Ron stood up as if he wanted to come too.

Snape sighed. "Fine, Mr. Weasley, you may come along." He rolled his eyes in spite of all the excitement.

The two soon reached the dark library. They entered, and Severus saw what he had been fearing. Hermione had obviously dropped her bag, and all her books lay scattered over the floor. A book lay open in the middle of the floor.

"Sir?" Ron whispered.

"Quiet Mr. Weasley!"

Snape approached the book with caution. He had a feeling it might be a Portkey, but he couldn't be sure. He turned to face Ron.

"Mr. Weasley, I'm going to touch this book, which I suspect to be a Portkey. If it is, and I don't return within ten minutes, send for help."

Ron nodded, looking apprehensive.

With that, Severus strode over to the book and touched it, his suspicions being realized when he felt a pull behind his navel and was flying.

The whirling around Hermione soon stopped and she fell onto the floor, twisting her ankle. She winced in pain as she tried to stand up.

"Where am I?" she whispered to no one in particular. Then she gasped as she realized where she must be. She had never been here before, but Harry and Ron had. She looked into the giant face that she assumed belonged to Salazar Slytherin and shuddered.

"The Chamber of Secrets."

Remembering what she had come to the library for, she knew she needed to search for Harry.

"Harry?" she called. "Are you hear?"

She could have sworn she heard a muffled cry from inside the mouth of Salazar Slytherin. Limping, she made her way to the mouth and climbed through it. She was inside a circular green room. She noticed a figure lying on the ground.

"Harry?" Hermione began to run to him, despite the pain in her ankle.

When she reached him she began to shake him.

"Harry? Oh Harry please wake up!"

He began to stir. Soon he opened his eyes. Hermione smiled when she saw him.

"Harry! Thank God, I thought you were dead." She hugged him tightly.

But Harry's face was worried. When he spoke, his voice was raspy and weak.

"Hermione. What are you doing here? You have to get yourself out."

"Why?"

Harry's face became more and more strained as he spoke.

"He's here. At Hogwarts. He wants you Hermione. Not me! You're the one! It's not me, it was never me!"

Hermione's face was puzzled.

"Harry, what are you—"

She was cut off by Harry's eyes, staring at what was behind her. Hermione slowly turned around, seeing the person she had feared all her years at Hogwarts. Voldemort. The snake-like face and red eyes were how she had always pictured them. He spoke.

"Miss Granger. How nice of you to join us."

Hermione stood up, ignoring her ankle.

"What do you want from me? WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

He smiled.

"Yes, Harry has told me all about your temper. Now please sit down and we can do this with no wands and no pain."

"What are you talking about?"

"I have something to explain to you, Hermione Granger. Will you listen?"

"No! I don't trust you!" She held up her arm and pointed to the mark. "Why did you do this to me? Why?"

"All part of the plan." Voldemort smiled. "Or as you might want to call it, the Prophecy. I've been trying to get a hold of you all year Hermione. I tried to get my servant to bring you but he wouldn't. He will be killed."

Hermione knew he was talking about Snape and her heart started pounding.

"So will you listen to what I have to say Hermione?"

"NO!"

With that she grabbed Harry and began to try to run.

"Crucio!"

Hermione felt pain. It was all she could concentrate on. Within a few moments it stopped. She still lay on the floor, twitching.

"Now that wasn't very wise, was it? You won't escape and no one will come for you. No one can speak Parseltongue and I've just sealed the Portkey....Where are you planning to run?"

"Not so fast!"

Hermione turned around to see Snape facing Voldemort, wand outstretched.

"Don't you touch her again."

"Severus. The liar. Now I can kill you before I kill Granger....and she can watch. It's her punishment for not listening."

With that, Hermione and Harry's bodies slammed up against the wall and were tied there with vines so they couldn't move. Voldemort smiled maliciously again.

"No. I have a better idea." He moved to Hermione and grabber her hand. The mark on her arm burned.

"I want you to kill him."

"No!" Her face was terrified. She wouldn't kill him.

"Then I will kill you first." He placed his wand tip to her head.

"Hermione just do it!" Hermione looked into Severus's eyes. "I don't want you to die...please, just do it!"

"Wait!" she shouted. "Tell me first. Why I'm so special."

"I knew you would see it my way. Now, I'm going to recite the Prophecy, you tell me where you see the similarities,"

Hermione was puzzled but listened, all the while struggling to escape the vines that held her. Vines now held Snape on the opposite side of the room. She looked into his eyes and tears began to fall from hers. She couldn't do it. There was no way she could kill anyone, let alone him.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies....And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...."

Hermione stared at the mark on her arm. It was all coming together...she was adopted...the mark on her arm...But was it possible?

"And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives....The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

"You see Hermione? I have learned quite an interesting story. That Lily Potter gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. That when she and James knew I was after them she left the girl at an orphanage, promising to come back when it was safe. That she was going to leave the boy at a different one the next day, but I came too quickly. I couldn't kill him because he wasn't meant to be killed. I was almost killed, but wasn't because it wasn't meant to be. Twins share a special bond that almost killed me when I chose the wrong one. And everyone assumed little Hermione to be dead. But no. She was adopted by Muggles and then got her Hogwarts letter. Didn't anyone ever wonder how such a skilled witch could be Muggle-born? And then this year I realized that you were still alive. I gave you that nice little mark on your arm, and here we are"

No. This couldn't be possible. Hermione was moving her mouth but no sounds were coming out.

"Now Hermione, kill my disloyal servant!"

"I can't!"

"And why not?"

"Because..." debating whether on not to say what she wanted to, Hermione spoke these words.

"Because I love him!"

For a split second Voldemort looked shocked.

"I'm sure you do. You'd say anything to get out of death. But you won't escape me now, Miss Granger, not ever."

Hermione held up her wand, mind racing.

"OK," she whispered. "I'll do it."

She glanced at Harry and their eyes met. If twins could read each other's minds, she prayed he would figure out her plan.

She held out her wand to Snape.

"Diffindo!" The vines on his wrists and ankles severed. Harry got the hint and did the same to himself and Hermione. They ran, Hermione having trouble with her ankle. She reached Snape and he lifted her and ran, making sure Harry didn't get left behind.

"Crucio!" Hermione felt the pain again and knew Snape did too. But somehow he kept running, as did Harry. Hermione felt like she was going to pass out. Climbing through Salazar Slytherin's head, dodging curses left and right, Hermione wondered why Voldemort hadn't killed them. Hermione knew she couldn't kill him. Not now, at least. They had almost reached the Portkey when Harry turned, pointed his wand at Voldemort and shouted:

"Avada Kedavra!"

He and Voldemort both collapsed, but Harry gathered the last of the strength he had to reach the Portkey with Hermione and Snape and touched it. The three were flying back to the Hogwarts library.

A/N--Hope you loved that as much as I did! Sorry it took so long...I wanted it to be great and I didn't have much time. Now make my day and review!